If your goal is to find natural dog treats and pet food that are top-notch and will maintain your pup’s health, then The Honest Kitchen is the way to go since it offers exceptional treats. All of The Honest Kitchen’s treats include ingredients that are of human grade quality, and are free from any unhealthy preservatives or fillers. Not only are they delicious for your furry friend, but they also have a long-lasting freshness, even after you’ve open the package. Get a glimpse at some of The Honest Kitchen’s preferred options for healthy dog treats.
Healthy Treat Options for Dogs
1) Parmesan Pecks: Chicken, Parmesan & Cranberry Recipe
The Parmesan Pecks are an excellent choice for your furry friend regardless of their age, whether they are a puppy or a senior. The treats are composed of whole grains and do not contain wheat. They are made using nutritious superfoods like free-range chicken, cranberries, rolled oats, barley, ground flaxseed, organic coconut oil, parmesan cheese, and eggs. Moreover, they are small, with only four calories per cookie, making them ideal for training or travel. The size also helps with managing the amount of food your pet consumes.
2) Bone Broth Bites: Turkey Bone Broth & Pumpkin
It is a widely known fact that bone broth is incredibly beneficial for people’s health. To adapt these advantages for dogs, The Honest Kitchen has created Bone Broth Bites, a top-quality animal protein biscuit that incorporates delectable turkey bone broth and nutrient-dense vegetables such as sweet potato, pumpkin, and carrots. Parsley and honey lend a flavor boost to these treats, and they’re both filling and grain-free, with a protein content of 14.5 percent. Bone Broth Bites are a suitable snack for all dogs, regardless of age, and they provide a healthful and low-fat option.
3) Goat’s Milk N’ Cookies: Slow Baked With Peanut Butter & Honey
The irresistible pairing of cookies and milk appeals to everyone, and The Honest Kitchen has made it possible for dogs to enjoy this classic treat with their slow-baked peanut butter and honey “Goat’s Milk N’ Cookies” biscuits. These treats are made using wholesome ingredients such as goat’s milk, barley, rolled oats, and peanut butter, and goat’s milk, infused with probiotics, ensures that your furry friend’s digestive system remains healthy while their taste buds indulge in deliciousness.
4) Gourmet Barbecue Liver Chips: Chicken Liver & Cheddar
The Honest Kitchen’s Gourmet Barbecue Liver Chips in chicken liver and cheddar are both nutritious and delicious, with a protein content of nearly 40% and a variety of healthy ingredients like cage-free chicken, chickpeas, real cheddar cheese, celery juice, chicken bone broth, honey, and tomatoes.
5) Ocean Chews: Crispy Codfish Skins
The Honest Kitchen has created Crispy Codfish Skins for dogs that love fish as part of their Ocean Chews product line. These alternative jerky snacks are healthy and chewy and only contain one ingredient: dehydrated codfish skins that are gluten-free naturally. Ocean Chews can be substituted for pet owners’ favorite rawhide chews, which can cause digestive problems, choking, and intestinal blockage in dogs. These treats provide plenty of protein (80%) and are easy to digest, keeping your dog occupied for longer. Additionally, codfish skins are rich in omega-3s, which are fatty acids that can aid cognitive function in older dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction, as well as help with canine arthritis and chronic kidney disease.
6) Purely One: 100% White Fish Filets
The Honest Kitchen’s White Fish Filets are a crunchy and flaky treat that your furry friend will enjoy. These treats are made from only one ingredient, white fish, similar to codfish skins, which are rich in protein and omega-3s. Their crisp texture allows for easy breaking into smaller pieces, making them perfect for both small and large breeds, and can also be controlled for training.
Healthy Dog Treats You Can Find in Your Fridge
Although The Honest Kitchen offers many nutritious and delicious options to pamper your dog, it is important to know that you might already have healthy dog snacks in your refrigerator. In times of urgency when you cannot make it to the store, you can pick fresh blueberries or cucumbers from the fridge to provide your furry friend with a healthy boost that they will enjoy! However, be sure to share these treats in moderation as consuming too many treats of any kind can lead to digestive problems or weight issues. Check out some other refrigerator-friendly snacks you can treat your dog with:
Raw Organic Cucumbers
Dogs enjoy the satisfying crunch of fresh cucumbers, which are a good source of vitamin C, low in carbs, and have high water content. If available, choose organic cucumbers as they are more fragrant and likely to stimulate drooling in dogs. Given their nutritional value and satisfying texture, cucumbers can be cubed and used as treats for dog training.
Blueberries
Dogs can enjoy blueberries as they are a superfood packed with antioxidants that can safeguard their body against damage caused by free radicals. Additionally, blueberries, which are a great source of fiber and vitamins C and K, make excellent low-calorie treats that can support your pet’s immune system. Finally, blueberries are suitable for training as they are naturally bite-sized.
Snap Peas
Snap peas make a great addition to your dog’s diet as they are commonly used in dog food. You can serve snap peas to your canine companion in various forms such as fresh, frozen, boiled or thawed. Just ensure that they are plain and not from a can, a rule which also applies to green beans. Canned vegetables tend to contain high levels of sodium that could harm dogs. Being rich in fiber, snap peas are easily digestible and contain high amounts of vitamins A, K, and B, as well as iron, zinc, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients play a vital role in improving your furry friend’s vision, skin, digestion, immune system, and heart health.
Celery
Celery is a popular healthy snack for dogs due to its satisfying crunch and nutrient content. It’s packed with important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, K, and C, folate, potassium, and fiber. Additionally, feeding celery to your furry friend can have dental benefits as its texture and high water content stimulate saliva production, which helps remove bacteria and plaque that can cause bad breath. Remember to be mindful of the size of the pieces you give your dog, cutting them into smaller, bite-sized portions for small dogs to reduce the risk of choking. Larger dogs may be able to handle larger pieces.
BONUS: How to Train a Dog That Is Not Food Motivated
The training of dogs is often facilitated by canine treats and other edibles, both for dog trainers and dog owners. This method of positive reinforcement is convenient and generally yields prompt outcomes.
Consensus among animal behaviorists and dog trainers affirms that positive reinforcement is the most effective method of training a dog, however, it is not necessary to solely rely on food as a form of positive reinforcement. Offering words of praise and affectionate gestures can also inspire your dog to exhibit the desired behavior.
Food rewards are commonly used by the majority of dog owners due to their high success rate. However, in the event that your dog shows no interest in receiving treats, what should you do? This article explores potential reasons for your dog’s unresponsiveness to food rewards, as well as dog training techniques to address this issue.
How to Train a Dog Who’s Not Interested in Food Rewards
There are various options available to you if your dog is not responding to food/treats used as positive reinforcement during training. Let’s explore a few of them.
Try Different Foods
Start by experimenting with various types of food to determine what your dog likes and use it as a source of motivation for eating. As with people, dogs have different preferences when it comes to food, and they may favor some flavors over others.
You have the opportunity to try out various food treats for your dog’s training until you find the most effective one. This type of treat is considered as your dog’s high-value food reward. It would also be wise to consider using food that your dog doesn’t typically consume.
Utilize safe and delicious treats like peanut butter and hot dogs, which are not commonly fed to dogs, in small portions as a reward for good behavior. It is important to ensure that the pieces or quantities provided are small and to avoid brands that incorporate xylitol in their ingredients.
Make Sure Your Dog has Plenty of Water
It is possible that your dog’s reluctance to eat the treat is not due to dislike, but rather due to thirst. As you may have noticed, when you are thirsty, you tend to avoid eating as it can cause further dehydration in the mouth.
Ensure that your dog is hydrated by providing water or offering it to him. Afterwards, proceed with the food-based training technique.
Make Sure Your Dog Isn’t Distracted
Your dog could be diverted by various factors. For instance, during a training class, your dog could be preoccupied with socializing with other dogs and people, causing him to not respond to food rewards due to the distraction.
An alternative to using training treats is to have him sit further away and then allow him to greet other dogs and people instead of rewarding him with a treat.
Ensure that you do not schedule your dog’s training sessions during meal times as it could prove to be a distraction for them.
Praise Your Dog Too
When rewarding your dog for good behavior, don’t limit it to just food rewards, but include praise as well. Offering praise is crucial in positive reinforcement training and holds the same significance as treats.
It is crucial to praise your dog abundantly regardless of whether you provide a food incentive or not. Praising your pup plays a significant role in their life and serves as an excellent alternative to food when it comes to encouraging favorable conduct.
It May Be Time to Stop
Observing your dog’s body language for signs such as scratching, yawning, or sneezing, in addition to refusal of food, is crucial to identify if he/she needs a break from the training session.
If you deny your dog’s request for a break, he may develop an unfavorable perception of his training session, making it crucial to allow him to take a breather.
Use Alternatives to Food for Positive Reinforcement
It is worth considering other options for rewarding your dog besides food. Clicker training, coupled with non-food rewards such as verbal praise or playing with the dog’s favorite toy, is a technique favored by numerous individuals.
The clicker is utilized to signify the instant your canine obeys your command, and without delay, you offer them their incentive. The application of clicker training is not only restricted to food-based incentives but it can also employ non-food incentives, which can be more advantageous.
The Thing About Food Training
Regarding food training, I want to share an experience from many years ago when I was employed at Marine World/Africa USA for one summer. This establishment, which I’m not certain whether it still exists, permitted visitors to interact with the animals in the park and also presented various shows featuring tamed wildlife.
Their primary source of recognition was their utilization of affectionate means to train animals. It was a core principle of theirs to abstain from using food as a form of training. They contended that utilizing food as a reward would solely stimulate the animal’s response to the food as opposed to the emotional connection shared with the trainer which ought to serve as a motivation for the animal to comply with requests. Ultimately, they aimed to establish a strong and positive relationship between the trainer and animal that would serve as the driving force for the animal’s obedience.
Although food could potentially trigger aggressive behavior towards the trainer as they were wild animals, some individuals believe that abstaining from the use of food training with animals is ideal. They contend that relying on a bond between the animal and trainer for motivation, rather than a food reward, is preferable.
To ensure a complete reward for your dog, it is crucial to include affection and commendation along with food or other incentives. It is necessary to make your pets feel equally incentivized by your praise and love, so that they remain motivated even in the absence of food.
