Dog Treat Ingredients: Store Bought vs. Homemade

Dog owners love giving their furry friends a treat whether it be for a trick, training, or fun. Valerie Cline, from The Whole Dog Journal, sums up treat giving very well, “Treats are fine; after all, we snack between meals! But, just as with our snacks, what treats you choose to give your dog should contribute – not take away from – the overall healthfulness of his diet.”

As dog owners, we need to educate ourselves on what is good and bad for our dogs. Heather a vet technician lists toxic foods that can harm your dog on her webpage, this list is a great start to learning what can harm your dog. The only thing I would make you aware of that wasn’t on the list is avocados. With that being said, please be careful about feeding your dog human food or scraps and if you are unsure please contact your vet.

So what should and shouldn’t be in your dog’s treats?

Notice the differences of ingredients in each bag of treats.

What should be in dog treats:

• Whole ingredients like rice, wheat, and eggs.

• Ingredients like vitamin C and E to help keep treats fresh.

• Meat ingredients should be whole. For example, Lamb versus lamb by-products, Lamb is better.

What shouldn’t be in dog treats:

• Artificial coloring and food dye.

• “Flavor” in the ingredients list, this shows there are not quality ingredients being used.

• BHA, BHT, potassium sorbate, sodium nitrate, and ethoxyquin.

• Propylene glycol which is used to keep food moist.

• Low quality sugar such as corn syrup, sucrose and ammoniated glycyrrhizin.

Dog treats are not the entire substance of your dog’s diet, if the treats have more sugar for instance they are not necessarily bad, remember it’s a treat!

Homemade treats are a really good route to take with your dog, especially because you know what your dog likes and dislikes, and what is going into each treat. My favorite place to look for dog treat recipes is Pinterest, you can follow my doggie board or find your own. Most homemade treats will include banana, pumpkin, peanut butter, oatmeal, and/or carrots. I’ve made pupcakes for Ruby and she loved them, I can’t wait to try a peanut butter bacon or oatmeal treat for her next.

What kind of homemade treat would you like to make for your furry friend? Did it surprise you how many toxic foods there are for dogs?

Taking Your New Puppy Home

Bringing your Puppy Home

My husband and I drove all the way to Indiana to get Ruby, and the ride back was a blast. I kept Ruby in my lap the entire ride home, which was about 6 hours. We stopped three times to let Ruby go to the bathroom. We chose stops that did not seem to have much dog activity because her vaccinations weren’t complete yet and we didn’t want her to contract any diseases. Ruby slept for most of the car ride home and didn’t whine either. Some of the hardest parts of bringing a puppy home are getting the puppy acquainted to their new surroundings and sleeping at night.

Prepping for the New Puppy

There are few essential things you will need for your new puppy.

• A leash and collar with dog tags. The dog tags should include the owner’s name and phone number. There are many places online for customizable dog tags.
• Water and food dishes. Buy dishes that will fit with your dogs breed and size. We bought bigger dishes right away so Ruby would grow into them. 
• A dog crate and a comfortable dog bed.
• Puppy food, try to get the same kind as the breeder used so you do not upset the puppy’s stomach.
• Bring a toy to the breeder’s house for your pup so the scents from their brothers and sisters will be on it.

 

Introducing a New Puppy to Your House

• Keep visitors to a minimum for the first couple of days so your pup can get used to their new surroundings and settle in.
• Only praise your puppy for good behavior and ignore bad behavior. Your puppy has no idea what you expect of him/her and punishing will only create confusion and stress. 
• The first thing to do when you arrive home is to take your pup to the designated bathroom area. Wait 10 to 15 minutes for your pup to relieve himself or herself. When your puppy does go, give him or her lots of praise.
• Your puppy will be hungry soon after arriving home, so set out the dishes of water and food. When the pup is done eating promptly take him or her outside to use the bathroom.

Here is an informational article from Iams on bringing your puppy home too.

What was it like bringing your puppy home for the first time? Were you overjoyed, overwhelmed, well prepared? I would love to hear all of your stories!