Most dogs undoubtedly have a fondness for peanut butter.
Not only will this convenient food satisfy your dog’s taste buds, but it’s also effective for concealing medications and filling puzzle toys.
Peanut butter can be a pretty healthy snack for dogs (as long as it isn’t packed with added sugar and salt), as it supplies them with lots of Vitamin B, Vitamin E, and niacin, as well as protein and healthy fats.
Using peanut butter as an ingredient to prepare homemade dog food items such as a personalized dog birthday cake or cupcakes is an excellent choice.
However, not all peanut butters are created equally. Some brands can even be dangerous for your doggo .
In this article, we’ll highlight three excellent peanut butter choices for your dog and provide guidance on what to consider when selecting a peanut butter that is safe for pets. By doing so, you can ensure that your furry friend remains happy and healthy.
What Kind of Peanut Butter Is Safe for Dogs?
While selecting peanut butter for your furry friend, make sure to pay attention to the list of ingredients. Usually, peanut butters without xylitol are harmless for dogs.
An artificial sweetener called Xylitol does not pose any health risks to humans but can make pets very ill if consumed. In severe cases, ingestion of foods that contain this sugar substitute can result in pet fatalities.
Xylitol can cause a hypoglycemic crisis in your dog by significantly lowering their blood sugar levels even in minute quantities.
To provide context, it’s important to note that xylitol is roughly 22 times more poisonous to dogs than chocolate.
It is important to be aware that xylitol can potentially appear as a constituent on a nutrition label in the following manner:
- xylite
- anhydroxylitol
- d-xylitol
- xylitylglucoside
- 1,4-anhydrous-d-xylitol
It is important to carefully examine the label for the benefit of your dog.
4 Great Dog Safe Peanut Butters
These are our preferred peanut butter brands for your furry friend. They are all formulated for canines and can be given to your pet without any concerns.
1. Green Coast Pet Pawnut Butter
Green Coast Pet Pawnut Butter is designed exclusively for dogs; however, it is also suitable for human consumption.
Details
- Peanut butter made specifically for dogs with just 2 ingredients: peanuts & flaxseed
- Xylitol free
- Perfect for filling toys, lick mats, bones or dental treats
- Use Pawnut Butter to hide pills or bake peanut butter cookies
Characteristics: The sole components of this peanut spread are flaxseeds and peanuts.
Peanuts provide protein and lip-smackin’ flavor, while the flaxseeds help boost your dog’s daily omega-3 fatty acid intake . Omega-3s help to promote joint health and healthy skin, and they also help to reduce inflammation.
2. KONG Real Peanut Butter Tube
It is well-known that KONGs are highly favored by many dogs, and to enhance the fun during playtime, KONG Real Peanut Butter can be applied.
Details
- Pack of 1
- Recommended for use with all KONG Classic and KONG Extreme dog toys
- All natural ingredients include roasted peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil to prevent…
- KONG Real Peanut Butter uses a formula that is virtually identical to peanut butter brands commonly…
This convenient pet peanut butter is crafted from nutritious ingredients like peanuts and vegetable oil, and comes in a tube that enables the user to easily squeeze the peanut butter directly into pet toys such as KONGs.
Use this peanut butter sparingly with overweight dogs as it does contain a small amount of added oil and sugar.
3. Poochie Peanut Butter
Poochie Peanut Butter is a peanut butter made exclusively for dogs, with the absence of xylitol. This pet-friendly peanut butter contains additional nutritional benefits that enhance its goodness for your pooch.
Details
- 4 Added Benefiting Ingredients
- Great for Crate Training
- Helps with Separation Anxiety
- Made in USA
Poochie peanut butter’s ingredients primarily consist of dry roasted peanuts, but also include natural components such as cinnamon, turmeric, parsley, ginger, and coconut oil.
The inclusion of these components enhances the flavor of the peanut butter, supports a lustrous coat and skin, and is believed to possess anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Hyper Pet IQ Peanut Butter
The Hyper Pet IQ Peanut Butter is specifically for dogs and is free from xylitol, high fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, artificial sugars, and salt.
Details
- DESIGNED FOR YOUR DOG: Dogs must avoid Xylitol because it is toxic, Treat Spread from Hyper Pet is a…
- TOP QUALITY PEANUT BUTTER FOR DOGS & PUPPIES: All-natural dog peanut butter is sourced and produced…
- DOG TRAINING TREATS: Natural peanut butter is a healthy dog treat in moderation. Dog peanut butter…
- FEEDING & USE INSTRUCTIONS: Stir all natural peanut butter very well for smoothest peanut butter….
This peanut butter with only a few ingredients is created using roasted peanuts, banana, chia seeds, and honey, resulting in a delicious spread that your dog will enjoy.
The texture of Licki Mats is suitable for DIY dog cupcake frosting or for applying onto your dog’s medication to ensure he takes it.
The regular flavor of this peanut butter is available alongside a Pumpkin variation.
Peanut Butters That Contain Xylitol: Not Safe for Dogs
When shopping for a spread for your furry friend, be cautious of these brands and avoid them.
If you come across a peanut butter that promotes added protein, it is likely that xylitol is utilized as a sweetener, thus it is important to proceed with caution.
Go Nuts Co
This company produces nut butters with high protein content available in various flavors. Although only a few of the products contain xylitol, it is advisable to refrain from them altogether unless you are prepared to carefully examine the list of ingredients and identify all potential variations of xylitol.
Nuts N’ More
Using xylitol as a sweetener in all of their recipes and incorporating additional protein into their products, Nuts N’ More produces items that are dangerous for your canine companion.
P28
Due to the presence of xylitol in P28 products, they are unsuitable for pets to consume. Although their packaging denotes that they are “all-natural,” this does not equate to being harmless. It is worth noting that xylitol is, in fact, a naturally occurring substance. Moreover, there might be an inclusion of extra sugar or salt in these products.
BONUS: Dog Training 101: How to Completely Train Your Dog
Do you feel prepared to initiate your dog or puppy’s training? Teaching your dog appropriate behavior and socializing them are essential for their welfare. It’s crucial to commence your dog’s training at the earliest opportunity, including commands like sit, stay, come, crate, and going potty outside. Surprisingly, as a beginner, you can handle this yourself.
At first, dog training can seem pretty overwhelming, especially if this is your first dog . The truth is that training your dog is a very big project. If you take it step by step, you will find the task to be far less daunting. Here is some information to help get you started:
- Start a Dog Obedience Program : Learn how to set a basic foundation before you begin to train your dog.
- Train Your Dog Using Games : Training your dog should be fun! Everyone knows it’s easier to learn when you are having a good time, so try implementing some games into your dog training regimen.
- Six Weeks to a Well-Trained Dog : Using this schedule as a guide, you can teach your dog the basics in about six weeks.
- Positive Reinforcement : There are many different ways to train a dog, but most dog professionals agree that the positive way is the best for both the dog and trainer.
House Training and Crate Training
If you don’t intend to keep your dog outdoors, which most of us don’t because it’s not advisable, you will have to instruct your dog on where to defecate. This is why training your dog to eliminate in the right place, also known as house training or potty training, should be a priority. Employing crate training could be a crucial aspect of this process, covering not only house training but also various other forms of training.
- Crate Training Dogs and Puppies : Here are the basics of training your dog or puppy to accept and even enjoy the crate. Not only will it help with housebreaking, but it will also give your dog a place of his own.
- How to House Train your Dog : When it comes down to it, house training is not that complicated, but this doesn’t mean it’s easy. Consistency and diligence are key during the housebreaking process.
- Submissive/Excitement Urination in Dogs : If your dog is still having accidents in the house, it may be more than a simple housebreaking issue. Your dog might urinate out of excitement or to express submissive behavior.
Leash Training Dogs and Puppies
It is necessary for all dogs to be trained to walk while leashed. This is not only due to the existence of leash laws in many regions, but also because leashing the dog at times could ensure its safety. You should become familiar with the process of introducing your dog or puppy to the leash and coaching them to walk the right way on the leash – they can even walk parallel to your bike. When the dog is taught how to walk on a loose leash, it will not pull or jerk when on the leash, making the experience delightful for both yourself and your furry companion.
How To Socialize Dogs and Puppies
Socialization refers to the process of acclimatizing your puppy or grown-up canine to embrace novel individuals, creatures, and diverse locations by introducing them to such stimuli. Dogs that have been socialized show reduced tendencies to develop problematic behaviors and are generally better received by people. Socialization can also be a preventive measure against the emergence of phobias and fears.
The bottom line is that socializing your dog or puppy will make him a happier, more well-behaved dog.
Clicker Training for Dogs
Utilizing positive reinforcement, clicker training proves to be an uncomplicated yet successful approach to dog training. While it’s still feasible to train your dog without this method, it proves to be advantageous for many individuals. Clicker training allows for simple and efficient instruction of various fundamental and complex commands and tricks for your dog. Learning how to clicker train your dog is speedy and straightforward.
Basic Commands and Fun Tricks
Every dog should be familiar with fundamental commands and tricks such as come, speak, drop it, stay, back up, and so on. These basic instructions provide your dog with a sense of order and can also assist you in solving typical dog behavior issues, as well as ensuring your dog’s safety.
Proofing Behaviors and Troubleshooting
The final stage of teaching your dog a new trick is proofing. Mastering how to proof tricks will ensure your dog’s obedience not just at home but also at other public places such as parks or a friend’s house.
It is important to keep in mind that reaching the last phase of training does not guarantee the absence of any behavioral concerns. To manage such issues, familiarize yourself with the prevalent dog behavioral problems, and the approach to tackle them. Utilize the provided manuals to aid you in navigating through this section of training.
- Proofing Behaviors : Practice behaviors in a variety of situations with different levels of distraction. Without proofing, your dog may behave well in your living room, but seem to forget all his training when he is outside the house.
- Teach Your Dog Self-Control: This method teaches your dog that nothing in life is free, but that he needs to earn things like food and attention through obedience.
- Common Dog Behavior Problems : Understanding potential behavior issues can help you detect and address them before things get out of control.
- Dog Behavior Management Versus Dog Training : While dog behavior management and dog training are two different things, they are not mutually exclusive. Behavior management is an important part of any dog training program.
Advanced Dog Training
After your dog has become proficient in the fundamental commands, you can contemplate advancing to more intricate feats. These pursuits will aid in keeping your dog agile, healthy, and mentally engaged. Furthermore, they will strengthen the rapport between you and your furry friend.
Always keep in mind that training is a continuous journey and you cannot achieve perfection. It is crucial to engage in obedience training for your dog throughout their lifetime. Similar to how individuals who learn a language during their childhood may lose it with time, dogs also require consistent practice. Revisiting fundamental tricks and commands can help maintain their memory and it also makes for an enjoyable bonding experience with your furry companion.
