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Dog Treats And The Health Of Your Pet If you are looking for a good quality dog treat, biscuit, or cookie to serve your dog, there are things to consider before you give it anything. Positive reinforcement dog training is often through the use of dog treats. But, dog treats are not for dog training alone. Most dog owners use them as snack alternatives and to aid in maintaining their pet’s health. Like everything else that affects our pets, an owner should carefully evaluate any kind of dog treat, biscuit or cookie before giving it to his pet. Our canines have shorter life spans and age faster than people do. You can increase your dog’s years with greater quality of life by giving consideration to health issues advantageous to your pet. This includes the quality of dog food, dog treats, cookies and biscuits consumed over the years. Health concerns should include food allergies, potential food allergies, nutrition, toxins, chemicals, preservatives, fillers, artificial “whatever’s”, cholesterol and calorie content. Just because a food, and that includes dog treats, is marketed and sold does not guarantee it’s a quality product or healthy for your pet. A growing concern with dog health is obesity and dog treats often play a role. Almost half of Too many dog treats, or the wrong kind of dog treats, and overindulgence in general can contribute to obesity. Most owners tend to give dog treats on an unregulated basis. For some dogs, it doesn't matter how many calories a single biscuit may contain, but for an increasing number of dogs the added, and often empty, calories are a problem. Towards the goal of weight reduction. If your dog is overweight, you need to gradually reduce its daily caloric intake until your pet reaches normal weight. Providing low- or reduced-calorie dog treats can help in this process. You can also control the quantity or type of dog treats given throughout the day. If your dog is obese, you will want to consult your veterinarian, and consider implementing a regular exercise regimen. Avoid giving your dog commercially produced human foods as dog treats. Not all food that's good for humans is good for dogs. Some foods can cause allergic reactions -- itchy skin, rashes, dull, thinning hair, and other coat problems. Other foods, if consumed in sufficient quantities, can make dogs sick or even kill them. Commercial foods are often rich in fats and calories and low in nutrients and vitamins. Giving these foods indiscriminately and at indiscriminate times promotes the habit of begging and rummaging for food. Instead, give your pet dog treats in familiar feeding areas. Always feed or reward with wholesome dog treats of appropriate caloric content. That goes as well for dog food. It is best to buy naturally produced quality dog treats, and that goes for all foods your dog consumes. This way you avoid unnecessary additives that may pose real threats to your dog's health. Fat- and sugar-laden dog treats are a complete “no-no”. Look for dog treats that have high concentration of fiber and protein. Dog treats primarily made from fish are good sources of unadulterated health components that are great foods for humans as well as dogs. They are low in calories and fat. Dog treats should not be more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet. Avoid giving dog treats before major meals. If you are training and using dog treats as positive reinforcement, cut back food portions at meals to balance the diet with the dog treats. There are dog treats that are especially made to optimize your dog's health, working on the same principle as vitamin supplements. These are aids to maintain your dog's health and may even relieve symptoms of certain diseases. In choosing the ideal dog treat, rely on good judgment and information. But, in case of doubt, talk to your veterinarian. RELATED INFORMATION: 
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