Treats are good for dogs and necessary when training and rewarding, but how many is too many treats?
Why it’s important to give your dog treats
Small treats or biscuits can be good for your Chi because they help scrape tartar off their teeth. Just remember their tiny tummies and be sure to get ones that are made small enough for toy breeds.
Treats are an important part of *training and rewarding your dog. However, it’s a balancing act. Too many treats or high-calorie treats could cause obesity in your dog.
How many are too many?
While dogs may love treats they are not balanced for the nutritional requirements your pet needs to stay healthy. Therefore, treats should not account for more than 10% of your pet’s daily calories. Calories do not have to be on the treat packaging. You could contact the manufacturer so you can calculate how many treats would account for that 10%, or just be diligent not to give too many during the day and make sure they are tiny pieces.
Remedy’s favorite treats are Blue Wilderness Trail Treats, they are soft enough to easily break into smaller pieces. These are the Wild Bites, salmon flavor, but she likes them all. They also have grain-free treats.
What’s the harm?
Feeding too many treats can lead to a deficiency or excess of certain nutrients and cause illness. Essentially, most pet treats are empty calories — much like a big piece of chocolate cake is for us.
A quick word about table scraps as treats
Should you give your Chihuahua *table scraps? Of course, that is your decision, but here are some facts that you should consider first about human food for dogs.
- Chihuahua tummies are small and can’t hold much food at a time.
- No matter how nutritious your dinner is for humans, most likely his/her dog food is much better for him/her.
- Dogs that eat table scraps usually lose their taste for dog food altogether.
- If you feed your dog directly from the table, she will become an accomplished beggar. It may be cute a time or two, but your guests probably won’t find it to be cute at all.
- Last, but not least eating table scraps is the number one cause of obesity in dogs.
Keep your dog’s individual needs in mind
Finally, always keep in mind your pet’s individual health needs and dietary restrictions. For example, dogs with kidney disease need specially formulated therapeutic diets to help maintain kidney function. Adding a new treat without consulting with your veterinarian first may inadvertently negate the benefit of the diet.
*Don’t miss our series “How to Train Your Chihuahua“
*Be sure to see “10 Things You Should Know About Feeding Your Chi Table Scraps“
The Best Treats for Small Dogs
When looking for healthy treats for your Chihuahua make sure they are all-natural with no added preservatives.
The following are my dog’s favorite treats. I save them for a “high value” treat when training or conditioning training. Easy to break into the perfect size for your Chi.
BEEF JERKY
Made with just one ingredient: 100% USDA-certified top sirloin beef. It’s high-protein, restaurant-grade, and contains no preservatives.
CHICKEN JERKY
High-protein, restaurant-grade 100% USDA-certified chicken breast. No preservatives, additives, or anything else.