What snacks are the most effective?

The essence of positive training is to let the dog make the right choice. For the dog, it is what is most beneficial to them. choose. To maximize your dog’s desire to “do right”, your reward must also be the “best”.

Simply put, you have to choose your dog's favorite treat as a reward. You should even choose snacks with different "like" levels as rewards for training subjects. The hardest part is rewarding your baby with treats.

In addition, because positive training requires that "correct behavior must be rewarded as soon as it occurs," if it is delayed, the dog will forget the connection between behavior and reward. Therefore, it is best to choose snacks that are easy to carry. Things like big stick bones are obviously not suitable for training.

What is the correct posture for giving snacks

When you use snacks for training, be sure to pay attention to the amount.

Since the actions need to be repeated many times during training, and every time the dog does the right action at the beginning, the dog must be rewarded immediately, which means that you may have to reward it many times.

As a reward, there is no difference between large snacks and small snacks for dogs, both will make them extremely happy ~ so you should use snacks as small as possible, or cut large snacks into small particles Or small strips as a reward each time, which not only serves as a reward, but also ensures that the dog will not eat too much.

Also, you can change the form of the reward and it doesn’t always have to be a snack. If your dog is already obese or has a weak stomach, you can use verbal praise or physical actions, such as touch, as rewards for correct behavior.

How much snacks should I feed?

Eating too many snacks will make you fat...

It can be difficult to keep track of exactly how many treats you are feeding, especially if there are other people in the home who are caring for or training your dog, and everyone may be feeding your dog treats at any time according to their own wishes.

The best way is to ask your veterinarian in advance how many snacks your pet can eat per day, or according to the recommended feeding amount given on the snack package, use a separate sealed bag each day to eat the maximum amount that can be eaten for that day. A large amount, and then tell everyone that no matter how much you feed, you can never exceed this pack!

Attention, when rationing snacks, don’t forget to ration the staple food (the editor uses a kitchen scale every day to weigh the food~)

Can human food be used as snacks?

Although many owners already know that human food cannot be used as meals for dogs, but is it okay to use it as snacks occasionally?

Advice from a professional veterinarian is best. High fats and spicy condiments in human food can impair your dog's gastrointestinal digestion. These "delicious" foods can even cause pancreatitis in dogs.

Foods containing garlic, onions, and grapes are more likely to cause poisoning and death in dogs.

Novice dog owners recommend that you only feed your dog professional pet snacks. Just like when we feed our babies, we must choose specialized baby food. We can’t neglect it when it comes to dogs.

If your dog has a very sensitive stomach, you must first ask the doctor whether the snacks on hand can be given to him.

Are Snacks Possible Danger?

Snacks high in salt and fat can be dangerous for pets. In addition, some jerky snacks produced by unqualified manufacturers may cause damage to pets’ kidneys. It is recommended not to feed bulk snacks on the market. Some unscrupulous merchants will change the production date, and the raw materials and production process cannot guarantee safety and hygiene.

Are natural snacks necessary?

The American AAFCO’s definition of “Nature” pet food is that the raw materials must not be chemically synthesized.

You don't have to choose so-called "natural" snacks, but you must keep your eyes open and read the ingredient list carefully (if there is no ingredient list, don't eat it, it's too unsafe). If you see a lot of sodium, colors, or artificial flavors on them, these snacks are definitely not healthy enough.

Are functional snacks available?

Some snack manufacturers claim that their snack products can help solve pets’ dental problems, such as reducing tartar formation or preventing gingivitis.

The situation of dogs’ teeth is not exactly the same. It is best to consult your veterinarian whether this snack is suitable for your dog. Or maybe your dog’s dental problem cannot be solved by snacks and requires professional teeth cleaning. And brushing teeth care to solve.

It is worth noting that for dogs with sensitive gastrointestinal issues or those who need to pay special attention to their diet during the treatment period, you must be as careful when choosing snacks as you are when choosing staple food. Make sure there are no ingredients in the food that will aggravate the pet's condition. Although the snacks are small in size, if they contain things that your dog is allergic to, they can still cause severe allergic reactions.

If your dog has kidney failure and other diseases and is fed a special diet, be sure to communicate with the attending doctor in advance whether snacks are allowed. Do not let individual ingredients in the snacks offset the effect of the medicine, and make full use of it. past.

Ingredients in snacks

Just like you pay attention to nutritional balance when choosing dog food, you should also pay attention to whether the ingredient list contains a variety of nutrients when choosing snacks. Ingredients and vitamins that will keep your pet healthy and nutritionally balanced.

In addition, professional veterinarians point out that snacksThe feeding amount must not be too high. The caloric intake of snacks should not exceed 10% of the daily caloric intake. If it exceeds, it will cause the pet’s body to not absorb nutrients.

Snacks with too much salt or sodium content will also cause the dog to drink more water, which will put a burden on the dog's body. If you notice that your dog is drinking a sudden increase in water, it is likely that the treats (or food) are too salty.