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Dog Training Treats Selection

Are dogs’ functional training treats helpful, and how to choose them?

Overwhelmed by the choices in the market when it comes to dog treats? You’re not alone. While there are plenty of dog treat options to choose from, different types of treats have different uses and purposes. For example, certain dog treats are meant to improve dental health, while others are made to last longer in order to keep dogs occupied and engaged. Picking the right dog treats to reward your dog during training sessions will have a huge impact on how successful these sessions will be.

Dog treats can serve several purposes during training: they can act as lures, motivators, and rewards. Without the right kind of treats, your dog can lose interest in the training sessions, and won’t be as motivated to pay attention or make progress. But with the right type of treats, your dog will be more invested in the training and will be more likely to follow instructions in order to receive the reward.

Factors to consider when choosing the right functional training treats for your dog:

Understand your dog’s preferences

While this factor might seem obvious, it is quite common for owners or trainers to choose a treat they assume that their dog will like, which is often not the case. Pay close attention to your dog’s behavioral cues, and take note of what types of treats they respond to. Chewy treats are usually a favorite among dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes. If you’re looking for options to buy training treats for aggressive dogs, you need to be more aware of the dog’s preferences, as it may impact how they react to the training sessions.

Understanding Dog Preferences

Training treats should be small in size

Since the point of training treats is that they are meant to be given out frequently, functional dog treats for behavior problems should be used as rewards for good behavior and compliance during training, it is recommended that they are small in size, like the Dogsee Chew Mini bite-sized Dog Training treats. A big treat can be broken into smaller bits to be given out each time your dog performs a desired behavior. If a treat can’t be broken up or cut to size (like a hard piece of jerky or dog biscuits), then it is possibly not the right type of treat to use in training.

Small-Sized Training Treats

How to choose healthy dog treats

While exploring options for dog food and healthy functional dog training treats with the proper nutritional content, pay attention to the ingredients and ensure that you’re choosing low-calorie dog treats. If you do end up buying high-calorie treats or larger-sized treats, break them into smaller pieces and use them as high-value training treats when needed.

It is recommended to choose dog treats made from premium high-quality ingredients that are low in sugar and fat content. Food and treats made from ingredients like pumpkin, carrots, whole grains and high-quality single-source proteins like fish, beef and chicken are all good options for your dog’s diet. Make sure you feed them these treats in small bite-sized portions.

Be aware of calorie intake

The general rule for estimating how many treats you can give your dog in a day, as recommended by several nutritional experts, is that any addition to the diet should not exceed 10% of the calories consumed in the day. For example, if your dog normally eats 500 calories per day, treats and other extras must not exceed 50 calories.

This is why training treats that are bite-sized are preferred, as the calorie intake is easier to calculate and regulate. On days when a lot of treats are consumed, the next meal can be slightly smaller than usual.

Treats and the training process

Calorie Management for Dogs

The use of training treats is an important part of the training process for dogs. Without these treats on hand, your dog might not make the most out of the training exercises, and may also take much longer to pick up basic commands. Stock up on healthy, nutritional treats that your dog enjoys, and are devoid of preservatives and other additives. Treats should also be broken into small pieces to avoid overindulgence. Whether you’re looking for functional dog treats for puppies or adult dogs, choose treats that your pet will enjoy, and therefore look forward to your training sessions together.

Apart from training treats, you can also consider treats with other functional benefits, like dental treats, depending on your dog’s needs and preferences. Dental treats help to regulate the overall dental health of your furry friend. Read our blog on the topic to learn more about how dental treats can benefit your pet.

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