It’s important to keep your dog on a schedule. This means feeding them at the same time every day and giving them their allotted number of treats. Dogs love routine, and it will help make sure that they stay healthy and happy. It’s also important to make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise, as this will help them burn off any excess calories from the treats. If you are unsure about how many treats to give your dog, ask your veterinarian for advice.
1. Size
Depending on the size and weight of your dog, you will want to give them somewhere between one and four treats per day. For example, a small dog may only need a one treat, while a larger dog may need four. If you have a medium-sized dog, you will likely fall somewhere in the middle and give them two or three treats.
An example of a small dog is a Chihuahua, and an example of a large dog is a Labrador Retriever.
There are many care guides that can be found online. According to some pet care guides, the rule of thumb is 1 treat per day for every 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of body weight. So, if your dog weighs 20 pounds (9 kg), then you would give them 2 treats per day.
2. Exercise
It’s also important to make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise, as this will help them burn off any excess calories from the treats. A good rule of thumb is to allow for about 30 minutes of exercise for every treat that you give. So, if you give your dog two treats in a day, they should get about an hour of exercise. If they only get a half-hour walk each day, you may want to reconsider the number of treats they are getting.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to space out the treats throughout the day rather than giving them all at once. This will help your dog stay on a more even keel and avoid any sugar crashes.
For example, if you give your dog two treats, you might want to give them one in the morning and one in the evening. Or, if you give them four treats, you could space it out so that they get one treat every few hours.
3. Schedule
It’s important to keep your dog on a schedule. This means feeding them at the same time every day and giving them their allotted number of treats. Dogs love routine, and it will help make sure that they stay healthy and happy. Plus, it can be helpful for you to have a schedule as well so that you don’t forget to give your dog their daily treat (or treats!).
For example, you might want to put the treats in a container and set the alarm on your phone for when it’s time to give them to your dog. Or, you could put the treats in their food bowl so that you remember to give them when it’s mealtime.
4. Variety
Don’t forget that variety is the spice of life! Just like humans, dogs can get bored of eating the same thing day in and day out. So, make sure to mix up their treats routine from time to time. This could mean giving them different types of treats or even switching up the flavors of the treats you give them.
For example, instead of always giving your dog chicken-flavored treats, you could switch it up and give them beef-flavored treats once in a while. Or, you could try giving them freeze-dried liver treats as a special treat.
Another example would be to give them different types of treats, such as chew toys or biscuits. This will help keep their interest and make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need.
5. Training
Remember that treats can also be used for training purposes. If you are teaching your dog a new trick or behavior, you will likely want to give them a treat each time they do it correctly. This will help them to associate the behavior with getting a reward, and they will be more likely to continue doing it.
Once your dog has learned the behavior, you can start phasing out the treats and only giving them occasionally. For example, if you are teaching your dog to sit, you might give them a treat the first few times they do it. But once they have learned the behavior, you can start only giving them a treat every few times, or even just randomly. This will help to keep them motivated and interested in doing the behavior.
6. Breed
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that some breeds of dogs are more prone to weight gain than others. For example, breeds such as Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are more likely to gain weight if they eat too many treats. On the other hand, breeds such as Whippets and Greyhounds are less likely to gain weight, even if they eat a lot of treats.
So, if you have a breed of dog that is more prone to weight gain, you may want to be extra careful about the number of treats you give them. Or, you could try giving them smaller treats or even breaking up their daily treat into multiple smaller ones.
When it comes to feeding your dog treats, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you should make sure that the treats are healthy and nutritious. Second, you should space out the treats throughout the day, and give them at regular intervals. Third, you should vary the types of treats you give your dog to keep them interested. And fourth, you should use treats as a way to train your dog, but eventually, phase them out. Finally, keep in mind that some breeds of dogs are more prone to weight gain than others, so you may need to be extra careful with the number of treats you give them. Just remember that a little bit of planning and thoughtfulness can go a long way in keeping your dog healthy and happy.