Hello,

All responsible pet parents make sure that their dog's meals are carefully proportioned according to the food — also carefully chosen — and their dog's size and age. 

Where we can slip up is when it comes to treats. 

We might want to occupy our dogs with a game, which can include using treats. We might use treats to improve behavior. We might just want to give them something they love because, well, we love them.

Treats are food. They contain ingredients that can be good or not so good. They also contain calories. This means treats are part of a dog's diet and can be just as important as their main food.

Many people make their own treats or use healthy everyday food like carrots or blueberries, but many buy pre-made and pre-packaged treats.

Whatever you choose, there are some dos and don’ts when feeding your dog treats.

 Save money on Redbarn treats, chews and dry food 

30% off selected treats on this page w/code DFATREAT

30% off dental chews on this page w/code DENTAL30

50% off first orders of Redbarn dry food (see codes on page)

50% off first orders of Redbarn Gut Health & Digestion food w/code DFAGUT

We asked Lindsay Tracy, Vice President of Product Development at 5-star-rated Redbarn, which makes treats and chews as well as dog food, for her tips on how to best use dog treats — and how not to.

The result is this article: The Rights and Wrongs of Dog Treats.

In short, the tips are:

Right…

1. Use them for training or good behavior

2. Feed them close to the dog’s face

3. Look for safe ingredients

4. Use them in moderation

5. Respect the dog’s space

6. Provide water

Wrong…

1. Using them while a dog is over-excited

2. Holding the treats high

3. Using certain human foods

4. Feeding them excessively

5. Using them during or instead of mealtimes

It’s definitely worth reading the whole article for Lindsay’s words of wisdom. And if you’d like to try Redbarn’s treats (well, if your dog would — we don’t recommend you eat them), you can get 30% off the products on this page with the code DFATREAT and 30% off dental chews on this page with the code DENTAL30.

There’s also 50% off first orders of its dry food via this link using the codes 50WHOLEGRAIN, 50GRAINFREE and 50AIRDRIED. And 50% off your first bag of Redbarn Gut Health & Digestion Air Dried dog food via this link using the code DFAGUT.

Have a fabulous rest of the week!
 

Take care,

The DFA Team
The Dog Food Advisor
Saving Good Dogs From Bad Dog Food

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