Snack Smart: A Guide to Dog Treats That Actually Fit Your Pup’s Needs

Choosing treats for your pups can be a daunting task, especially considering those that have specific allergies– or simply just don't enjoy specific tastes or textures. With our variety of treat options, we’ve considered these struggles and offer a wide variety of options. Whether you're looking for training treats, limited ingredients, organic ingredients, low calorie, or even just a tasty treat, we have it all!

At our Trail Mix Treat Bar we want to give you the chance to try some of our best-selling treats and see what your dog enjoys the most. Below, we’ve included some information about each treat and why it may be the best fit for your pup.

Why freeze dried?

Freeze drying is a process that involves freezing meats (in this case, salmon and beef liver) at low temperatures and then removing the moisture through sublimation in a vacuum chamber. This process not only keeps the nutrients contained, but involves little to no processing or preservatives. Compared to high-heat cooking, which can destroy valuable nutrients, freeze drying keeps treats both simple and nutritious.

Why we love Natural Rapport freeze dried treats:

Simply said, single-ingredient treats are a great option for all! These treats are allergy friendly, picky eater approved, and free of unwanted additives. The cube shape makes them great for all dog sizes and perfect for training, meal toppers, or daily treats. For those with specific protein allergies, Natural Rapport offers a wide variety of meat-based protein choices. Ingredient lists can be scary! A single ingredient label provides peace of mind, knowing exactly what your pup is eating.

Why dehydrated?

Dehydrating is a similar process to freeze drying but skips the freezing step and instead removes the moisture through low heat. This process also keeps the nutrients contained, unlike treats that are baked at high temperatures. These treats are offered in a crunchy, chip-like form rather than the cubes you might see with brands like Natural Rapport as mentioned previously.

Why we love Farm to Pet dehydrated treats:

We love seeing simple ingredient lists! These are a safe option for everyone, and have been a fan favorite for many years. They offer several human-grade meat options free from the yucky fillers and additives. These chips are great for dogs of all sizes as well, as they can easily break down into smaller pieces.

This is a go-to choice for dogs with allergies, sensitive stomachs, or picky appetites– and for those who just love crunchy, meaty treats as well!

Why Small Batch?

When a company produces in small batches, it usually signals higher quality control and better ingredient sourcing. This provides a sense of security that each batch is monitored for safety and consistency. Spunky Pup uses natural ingredients and avoids artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Their treats are a standout among other biscuit options.

Why we love Spunky Pup small batch treats:

These are a great option for dogs who love biscuits! With simple, all-natural ingredients, they're a safe and tasty option without harmful additives. They’re appropriate for daily use, with approximately 15 kcals per treat. Offered in both meat-free and meat-based options, they also come in fun shapes that add a little excitement to treat time for both the dog and human!

Why Organic?

At Lord Jameson, their treats are crafted using USDA organic certified ingredients, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals and preservatives. This guarantees no artificial flavors, harmful chemicals, colors and preservatives. Their recipes focus on whole-food, human-grade ingredients without any of the unusual additions.

Why we love Lord Jameson organic treats:

A lot of our customers come in and inform us of their pets' food allergies, especially relating to specific proteins. This is a great option to completely avoid protein, but still offer a nutritious and tasty option. All of their treats are either vegetable or fruit focused, offering fun colors without the artificial aspect. Our Love Puffs are a good low calorie option, offering only 24 kcal per treat. The pops are a good soft and chewy option, especially for those who have dental issues or just prefer their treats soft instead of crunchy. All of their products are gluten free and free from wheat, corn, dairy and soy. Just like Spunky Pup, these treats are also made in small batches!

Additional FAQ

How do I read an ingredient label?

Ingredient labels can often feel like an overwhelming aspect to many treats and kibbles. While it may be difficult to fully comprehend, it's important to understand the basics when looking at the back of treats or food bags. Reading the ingredient label is an important step to considering whether a treat may be a good option for your dog. For the sake of length, we will just be focusing on treats while answering this question.

The ingredient list

The ingredient list for a treat bag is similar to what you’d find on human food packaging. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Treats follow AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines - AAFCO sets standards for food labeling. While treats do not need to meet a complete nutritional profile like dog food, they are still required to follow some of the same guidelines.

• Ingredients are listed by weight - Companies are required by AAFCO to list their ingredients by weight, meaning that the first ingredient is the most prominent while the last is the least prominent.

• Focus on whole, recognizable ingredients - Look for named meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These types of ingredients are easier to identify and often indicate a higher quality treat. Choosing whole ingredients also means your dog benefits from naturally occurring vitamins and nutrients. For example, beef liver contains essential nutrients like vitamins A and B, as well as iron, zinc, and copper.

• Sourcing - If you are curious about sourcing, you can contact the company directly to get more information on where they are receiving their ingredients. This can be beneficial when considering the quality of what is being used.

The guaranteed analysis

Listed by the minimum and maximum percentages of:

1. Crude Protein - amount of protein (amino acids) present in the product

2. Crude Fat - represents the amount of fats and oils (lipid) present

3. Crude Fiber - the indigestible portion of plant material (like cellulose)

4. Moisture - amount of water present in the product

“Crude” refers to how the nutrients are chemically measured— not the quality of the ingredients.

The calorie content:

Expressed as kilocalories (kcal) per kilogram of product as fed, and sometimes per treat. This is important to consider when watching caloric intake, or looking for lower calorie training treats.

1 kilocalorie = 1 “large” calorie = 1,000 small calories

If treats are higher in calories, consider adjusting mealtime portions to avoid potential obesity. Knowing your dogs daily calorie needs is an important step to doing this. There are a number of factors that play into determining daily calorie needs, so it’s important to consult your vet to determine this. Never completely replace your dog's meal with treats, as treats are not nutritionally balanced.

To learn more about reading dog food and treat labels visit https://www.aafco.org/

What sets training treats apart from other treats?

When looking for training treats, reading the ingredient label (as outlined above) is key. These treats are often marked as low-calorie and will indicate calorie content on the back of the bag—typically under the guaranteed analysis.

Some key features of training treats:

• Low calorie - ideal for extended training sessions

• Small size - reduces risk of overfeeding

• Strong aroma - makes the treat more enticing = higher training value

Examples we have in store:

• Etta Says Sit! Training Treats - 1.4 kcal/treat (soft)

• Polkadog Salmon Says Training Bits - 3 kcal/treat (crunchy)

• Polkadog Lucky Duck Training Bits - 3.7 kcal/treat (crunchy)

Alternatives:

• Use your dog’s kibble as treats for training + meal time in one session!

• Avoid using high-fat human food like cheese and peanut butter too often