How many dog treats can I give my dog a day is a question I’m frequently asked. So, just how many dog treats can a dog have a day?
The 10% rule of thumb
To answer that question is a bit like answering the question, how long is a piece of string. There is no finite answer. There is however a general rule of thumb that you should be aware of. That is that your dog’s treats should make up no more than 10% of its daily diet.
Dog treats come in all manner of sizes. From tiny training treats through to thumping great treats the size of a German Shepherd’s paw. They also vary greatly in terms of the calories they contain. So it’s never easy stating categorically just how many dog treats a dog should have a day.
With the treats made with my dog treat mixes, I recommend a daily amount according to the size of the treat. Coupled of course with the size of your dog. That said, it’s only a guideline. An estimate. It’s something that’s far from set in stone.
A treat is a treat, not a meal
The important thing to remember is that a treat is a treat. A reward. Yes, it’s food, but it should not take the place of a meal. So to begin with, a dog treat should add goodness to your dog’s overall diet. In fact, every single thing you feed your dog should add goodness in one way or another.
So you are hardly rewarding your best friend if you give it a mass-produced commercial dog treat laden with additives and preservatives. That’s no reward at all. Where’s the reward in potentially harming the health of your dog?
A dog treat should add nutritional value
No, a dog treat should add nutritional value to your dog’s diet, as well as being a reward.
For that reason, the treats made with my dog treat baking mixes are 100% natural because the ingredients are 100% natural. Every ingredient, every treat, has been overseen and approved by my resident canine nutritionist.
Liver Cake Training Treat Baking Mix
Bake your own healthy & 100% natural, wheat-free, gluten-free homemade dog treats!
Every single ingredient has also been passed fit for human consumption. So it’s safe for both you and your dog to eat.
Avoid commercial dog treats
Most commercial dog treats are produced in enormous factories making multiple treats for numerous brands. You have no real way of knowing what you’re rewarding your dog with. You don’t know what the ingredients are or where they came from. Most are synthetic anyway. That’s to say nothing of the additives, preservatives and unhealthy chemicals. No wonder we have so many sick pets today!
Such treats simply add calories to your dog’s diet. Calories and inflammation which further down the road is going to negatively impact your best friend’s health.
At the end of the day, your dog’s treats should make up no more than 10% of his or her overall diet. Weigh your dog regularly. Check your dog’s body condition score, and make sure whatever treats you provide your dog are taken into account when calculating his or her calorie intake for the day.
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