The Secret of Healthy Food for Dogs – 5 Natural Treats Your Dog Will Go Wild For!

As a dog owner you probably use treats to reward your dog’s good behaviour, strengthening the bond between you. However, at the same time you may be concerned about the nutritional value of commercial dog treats. Read on for our top 5 treat suggestions, using healthy food for dogs, that your dog will love!

1. Carrots – Maybe it’s the texture or the sweetness but most dogs love crunching on a fresh carrot. Our Bernese Mountain Dog prefers a carrot over commercial ‘teeth cleaning’ chews every time!

2. Apples – An apple makes an excellent flavoured ball, and you may find your dog eats the whole things when he’s done playing! A common question raised is whether apple seeds are poisonous. There is not really a ‘one size fits all’ answer to this question, as it will depend on the volume ingested and the size of your dog. Owners of smaller breeds may prefer to peel and deseed an apple before feeding it in small pieces. A large dog will probably be fine eating the whole thing, although you may still want to exercise caution if you have apple trees in your garden!

3. Snowballs – Blend together natural yogurt, a mashed banana and a little honey and/or peanut butter, and freeze in individual portions in a greased ice cube or cupcake tray (depending on the size of your dog) for a yummy ice cream alternative on those hot summer days.

4. Raw Chicken Wings – Raw chicken wings make an excellent chewy snack your dog will love getting his teeth around. DO NOT cook them first, as this makes the bones brittle and likely to splinter. For convenience as well as cost saving, buy in bulk and freeze the wings individually.

5. Cheese – Tiny cubes of cheese make an excellent extra special reward while training, while a cream cheese triangle stuffed into a kong will keep your puppy happy for ages as he tries to lick out every last bit!

There are some excellent resources available online containing more information on healthy food for dogs. Did you know you can even make your own fog biscuits, and there are even ‘bone’ shaped cookie cutters available? If you would like to try making your own dog biscuits, there are some excellent recipes here!