We got to chow down on heaps of delicious chocolate eggs this Easter, so how can we find a fun and safe way to give our dogs a treat as well? Tim Falk looks at some fantastic ways to treat your pooch that don’t involve chocolate.
The holidays are our favourite times of the year for one very important reason: we get to stuff our faces with delicious chocolate and treats. But what about your dog — is he or she allowed to tuck into a chocolate feast at this time of year? The answer, explains Dr Eloise Bright, a vet from lovethatpet.com, is a very big NO.
A Healthy Alternative
Just because you want to treat your dog doesn’t mean you can’t give him something nice and healthy. “There is really no need to give your pet rich, fatty, sweet human foods,” Dr Eloise says. “Dogs in particular have much fewer taste buds than we do, as evidenced by the fact they will regularly eat possum poo and all sorts of disgusting things. Many dogs will eat a piece of carrot as a treat and there are many healthy treats available for them.”
But choosing store-bought treats can be difficult at times, as not only are you spoilt for choice but the labels on treats can be pretty confusing. “Ideally stay away from the packets with numerous numbers, lots of salt and ingredients that don’t look like food items,” Dr Eloise says.
DIY Doggy Treats
Do you want to bake up a delicious, healthy treat for your pooch this Easter? Check out the Love That Pet biscuit recipe at lovethatpet.com/blog/tasty-easter-treatsfurry-family/
Forget Food
We all love pigging out sometimes, but spoiling your dog doesn’t even need to involve food at all. In fact, you can have hours of fun and treat your pooch without filling his tummy. “For many pets, play and attention is much more fun than food, so find out what your pet enjoys and take the emphasis off food as a way to interact. It’s much better for the waistline,” Dr Eloise says. If your pooch has a favourite toy, why not spend half an hour letting her play with it?
Alternatively, try training your dog to do a fun new trick, such as playing dead or rolling over — not only will this give you plenty of one-on-one time and mental stimulation for your pooch, but you can reward her with play time or a tasty treat to encourage her to learn.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to treating your pooch. For more, grab a copy of Pets Magazine at your local newsagent or online at universalshop.com.au.
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