The role of treats in your dog's diet

We all love a treat every now and then, and our dogs are no different, but the occasional tasty morsel has a range of other functional benefits you might not be aware of! 

Positive Reinforcement

Our pets are a reflection of their surroundings, and they’re heavily influenced by how we treat them every day. Like all of us, our dogs transition through multiple developmental phases in their lives, and each stage brings a new set of behaviours. Some of these are learned behaviours, adopted from their environment, and some are instinctual, embedded in their psyche from generations before them.

 

As with humans, our pets need guidance to learn right from wrong, and it’s well known that positive reinforcement has the strongest impact on long term behaviour. In essence, when your dog exhibits behaviour you would like them to continue, you vastly increase the chances of it happening again if you follow up with a positive action to reinforce the behaviour. Treats are one of the best forms of positive reinforcement, helping your dog make positive connections with their good behaviour, and making them want to repeat that behaviour again. 

Training

You may have heard the term ‘high value treats’ being thrown around by trainers, but what does it actually mean? The term refers to motivation levels in your dog, so a treat with ‘high value’ will be different for every single breed. It really comes down to what your dog loves most. Some may be motivated by their favourite ball, and some may be driven by your approval in the form of praise or petting. 

 

The overwhelming majority of dogs are food motivated, so the right treat will make them much more inclined to engage when you’re seeking to embed good habits. Again, every dog is different so it’s important to find that particular treat that really makes your dog motivated. The trick is finding one which is healthy and nutritious as well as irresistible. Effective training involves repetitive reinforcement of good behaviour, so it’s best to look for something which can be broken into small portions, and free from any nasty additives which may upset your dog’s digestion. 

Nutritional Benefits

Not all treats are made equal. Some can help provide much needed nutrients and vitamins which may not be present in your dog’s regular meal solution. There’s an array of treats out there with a range of naturally occurring nutrients such as thiamine which supports cognitive function and nervous system health, or glucosamine to help support joint health. Be wary of treats that contain grains or fillers, and try to stick with natural, single source proteins such as our PAWK range. If the list of ingredients is long, and you can’t understand half the words, it’s likely the treat isn’t the best choice for your dog.   

Mental Stimulation

Some dogs are full of energy no matter how much exercise they get, and some can be prone to separation anxiety or boredom if left alone at home. In these situations, treats can help to provide mental stimulation and alleviate anxiety, especially when they need to work through a game or puzzle to get at them! Smaller treats such as our PAWK lung pieces are great for puzzle toys, and longer chew treats such as our snouts or pizzles will keep them occupied for longer to alleviate boredom. 

Dental Health 

Treats which take a longer time to chew will stimulate saliva production, which helps keep teeth clean and healthy. Our Australian grown PAWK ears are a long-lasting chew, which will help support dental health as part of a balanced diet. 

 

Treats with varied textures can also help reduce plaque and tartar build up as your dog chews. PAWK trachea pieces have a naturally ribbed texture, which works to prevent the buildup of nasty bacteria in your dog’s mouth to keep them chewing happily for longer. 

PAWK Treats

Whatever the reason, treats are a critical part of a healthy and happy life for all dogs. If you’re looking for a treat option that’s not only tasty, but functional too, the PAWK range has varied flavours, textures and sizes packed with naturally occurring nutrients which will keep any dog engaged and ready to learn.