Every happy dog owner knows that in addition to maintaining a balanced diet, it is also important to properly reward pets with delicious treats. This may be a reward for the execution of commands in the process of their training, or maybe just for excellent behavior. Why is it important?
Dog behavior is based on innate instincts and acquired reflexes. The developed reflexes are a certain reaction by the dog in response to a stimulus, the execution of the command also has a reflex nature. In order to develop a new reflex, reinforcement is needed - a reward or encouragement. Reinforcement can be negative or positive. Treats refer to positive reinforcement or a reward.
The pet food market is currently replete with various offers for specialized dog treats. They differ depending on the product and technique used for its preparation. They have different compositions, sizes and calorie content. How can you choose the best and healthiest ones?
Ready-made treats
To manufacture dog treats, products of animal and vegetable origin are used: meat and meat products, offal, blood, fish, dairy products (cottage cheese, cheese), cereals, vegetables, fruits, berries, and vegetable oil.
They can be dried, dry-cured, baked, or completely unprocessed. Deer antlers are an example of the latter. By the way, treats are prescribed not solely for educational and incentive purposes but also as a preventive measure for diseases and maintaining dietary nutrition. There are specialized ones that solve a local body problem, such as digestion normalization. They can be grain-free and contain vitamins and minerals.
Ingredients
Today, the variety of mouth-watering delicacies presented on the shelves of pet stores is not inferior in its diversity to ready-made food. You need to select only the most natural additives which do not contain harmful substances and taste and aroma enhancers. It is preferable that during the manufacturing of the treats, bleaching and disinfection technologies with chemical compounds are not used. Not only will such treats not benefit your pet, but they can seriously undermine their health.
The composition of treats may include cartilage, bones, and wool. Some treats can contain a full spectrum of nutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. But do not forget about folk wisdom: everything is good in moderation. Such delicacies should make up no more than 10% of your pet's total diet and should not replace meals.
Delicious functionality
Crunchy. They differ in composition and flavor, depending on the breed and weight of the dogs. Crunchies are great for outdoor training and easily fit into small containers.
Chewable. Designed for older dogs and pets with dental problems. The product base is high-quality meat (duck, chicken, rabbit, turkey).
Dried. They are convenient to carry along and reward your pet for excellent command execution or to simply show your love. Dried sticks are made mainly from offal and have a pleasant aroma.
Dietary. They are for a special diet prescribed during a pet’s treatment or for the prevention of diseases. These products contain a maximum amount of vitamins and minerals with a minimum amount of calories. It is not recommended to give your dog such treats without consulting a veterinarian.
Cookies. They have a pleasant taste and take care of the pet’s teeth. They gently clean plaque from the enamel, get rid of food debris in the interdental spaces and prevent the formation of tartar.
Natural products
The technology of low-temperature drying at 42 degrees allows for the preservation of a maximum amount of food nutrients in treats. Treats are presented in the form of small appetizing pieces that the dog will easily eat during training, but will not be 100% satiated. After snaking on a low-calorie treat, the dog will continue the training with interest. These snacks can be:
- duck necks (good for strong joints and healthy teeth);
- lamb and beef tracheas, udders (contain collagen for a beautiful coat, healthy skin);
- sheep's esophagus (promotes proper metabolism);
- light (minimum fat, maximum protein);
- liver (contains substances to strengthen the immune system, normal hematopoiesis).
The main principles for choosing treats for training are:
- Small in size and easy to swallow. The task is not to feed the dog, but to give it an incentive for a good workout.
- Should not be salty/sweet and make the pet thirsty.
- Should be different from everyday food, be tastier, more aromatic, and more enticing.
- Should be convenient to transport and store.
- Health benefits.
Ginseng + vitamins = UME
It is important to dwell on the last point in more detail. Treats for your tailed friends should not only be delicious but also supplement their diet with vitamins and microelements. For example, UME feed doesn’t only contain ginseng, but also vitamins A, D, E, B1, B12, C, biotin, sodium, copper and zinc.
Specially developed balanced hypoallergenic food for adult dogs, enriched with ginseng root and easily digestible entoprotein, helps to fill your pets’ diet with all the necessary micro and macro elements and prolong their active longevity.
- Stimulates the immune system
- Improves cardiovascular system function
- Increases stamina and resistance to stress
- Promotes active longevity
Let your pet always have the most delicious encouragement and a healthy diet!
Читайте еще:
