Dog Blog | Dog Treats - Natural Dog Treats

The popularity of bully sticks has grown since there has been panic caused by contaminated pet foods. Many pet owners have resorted to switching to foods that they know won’t contain toxic chemicals.

Compared to rawhide treats, bully sticks are made from the beef of the cow and not the hide, which makes them easier for dogs to digest. Since this type of dog treat can be easily digested, it’s ideal for breeds both large and small.

Just like humans, pets need to indulge too! They can also get bored with the same dog food that is served over and over again. It’s just like a person who eats nothing but burgers at every meal.

That is why, from time to time, you should feed your pet some dog treats. These tasty dog delicacies also come in handy if you are teaching your dog a new trick. Give your dog a yummy treat every time he gets the trick right.

Dogs must be given treats and snacks regularly, especially when they are on their best behavior. However, pet owners must be wary of treats that are laden with chemicals and preservatives. These may be bad for your pet.

Always check the label for additives and preservatives. There are healthy alternatives such as cow ears for dogs. These are natural snacks with no preservatives. In addition to being healthy, they are USDA and FDA approved.

Dogs are intelligent creatures. With healthy dog treats, you can train your dog to do simple tricks such as sit, beg, or roll over. Like humans, they respond to positive reinforcement.

Giving treats is an effective way of reinforcing a pet’s good behavior positively. Some dogs, especially if they like the treats, will do anything just to have a tasty snack. With the help of treats, pet owners can communicate what they want their pets to do.

Have you ever thought about what owners fed their dogs before dog kibble was invented, or how they rewarded their pups before dog treats were made? Many people do, and they may surprised to learn that back in the old days no one made all natural dog treats, or chicken-flavored biscuits for dogs. In fact, canine treats weren’t even originally made for dogs.Nearly 200-years ago a London butcher sot to expand his business. So he baked some biscuits to sell along side his butchered beef. But when he tasted the biscuits, he found they weren’t too good and he fed them to his dog. The butcher was so encouraged by his dog’s love for the biscuits he decided to continue baking them for other dogs.

In 1908 an American businessman bought the recipe from the butcher and headed back to the continent to found what is know known as the Milk Bone dog biscuit company. Today Milk Bone is just one of the many companies marketing baked treats to pets.

Gnawing on a dried, smoked pigs ear may seem pretty gross to you and me—but, to Fido it is a delicious dinner. My German shorthair pointer, Barney, loves nothing better than to spend a rainy day chewing on a pig’s ear. Many times, I have even given Barney a pig’s ear to calm his excitement when I have guests over. I have taken Barney on long road trips and a pig’s ear really keeps him busy.

My friend owns a Labradoodle that barks constantly. My friend has tried everything from dog training classes, to canine anxiety medication. But the classes only made the barking worse, and the medication made the poor pup act like a zombie. I suggested he give his dog a pig’s ear to quiet his barking. And, guess what? It worked. The neighbors are no longer complaining and the car rides are no longer intolerable.

My neighbor has a dog that is very finicky.  She will not let any of us pet her even though she comes by all the time.  We sit out on our lawn often.  Actually, we use it for meals and other recreation like stretching on a regular basis.  When she sees us on the lawn, she generally comes over just to bark.

We think that eventually, she will have to get tired of the redundant act, but she doesn’t seem to be letting go any time soon.  My friend suggested that we have dog treats for her when she comes over so that she won’t be scared.  Well, I’ll definitely try it out.

 Just like in the army, boot camp is really just an introduction to a new career and new way of doing things. A tour through boot camp isn’t going to solve your alpha dog’s problems forever. It’s a way to get basic respect from a dog who’s been bullying you without having to resort to physical force.

How long should boot camp last? That depends on the dog. Some will show an improvement right away, others may take much longer. For really tough cookies, natural leaders that need constant reminders of their place in the pack, Alpha Dog Boot Camp will become a way of life. Social climbers may need periodic trips through boot camp if you get lax and accidentally let them climb back up a notch or two in the family pack order.

How do you know if you’re making a difference? If boot camp has been successful, your dog should start looking to you for directions and permission. He’ll show an eagerness to please. Watch how your dog approaches and greets you. Does he come to you “standing tall”, with his head and ears held high and erect? It may look impressive and proud but it means he’s still alpha and you still have problems! A dog who accepts humans as superiors will approach you with his head slightly lowered and his ears back or off to the sides. He’ll “shrink” his whole body a little in a show of submission. Watch how he greets all the members of the family. If he displays this submissive posture to some of them, but not others, those are the ones who still need to work on their own alpha posture and methods. They should take him back through another tour of boot camp with support from the rest of the family.

After a long hard day of boot camp, make sure to let him lay down and chew on his favorite treat, like bully sticks!

Once your dog has begun to accept this new way of life and his new position in the family, you should take him through an obedience course with a qualified trainer. All dogs need to be trained and alpha dogs need training most of all! You don’t have to wait until he’s through with boot camp to start this training but it’s important that he respects at least one member of the family and is willing to take direction from them.

Obedience class teaches you to train your dog. It teaches you how to be alpha, how to enforce commands and rules, how to get respect and to keep it. All family members who are old enough to understand and control the dog should participate in the class.

Obedience training is a lifelong process. One obedience course does not a trained dog make! Obedience commands need to be practiced and incorporated into your daily life. In a dog pack, the alpha animal uses occasional reminders to reinforce his authority. Certain commands, like DOWN/STAY, are especially effective, nonviolent reminders of a dog’s place in the family pack order and who’s really in charge here.  Giving them treats they enjoy, like bully sticks, is also very effective.

A well-trained obedient dog is a happy dog and a joy to live with. Dogs want to please and need a job to do. Training gives them the opportunity to do both. A well-trained dog has more freedom. He can go more places and do more things with you because he knows how to behave. A well-trained dog that’s secure in his place within the family pack is comfortable and confident. He knows what’s expected of him. He knows his limits and who his leaders are. He’s free from the responsibility of running the household and making decisions. He’s free to be your loving companion and not your boss. He’s free to be a dog - what he was born to be and what he always wanted to be in the first place!

 The immediate cause of a hot spot is a bacterial infection of the skin. The inflammation is itchy and painful for the dog, so he licks or chews at the site for relief… and further irritates the sore. Saliva is filled with bacteria and not a very good salve for wounds. As the dog becomes more frantic to relieve the irritation, he may become more aggressive with his chewing. Some dogs will bite to the point of self-mutilation. The most common sites for hot spots are those accessible by mouth – the flank, legs and paws, and the rump – but itchy dogs will get wounds anywhere they can scratch. A hot spot is painful as well as itchy. Some dogs might become protective of their sore and nip or growl to keep you away from it.  To distract them for periods at a time, it might be a good idea to give him a dog treat, like bully sticks. This is sure to keep him busy for a while.

The ultimate cause of a hot spotcan be more difficult to determine, but is especially important with multiple, chronic, or recurring sores. The occasional incident might be caused by a simple irritant such as a thistle or bug bite. Most hot spots occur in the summer months during hot, humid weather. Some breeds, such as Labrador and Golden retrievers, are known to be predisposed. In general dogs with thick or long hair coats are at risk. Dogs prone to ear and anal sac infections are also more susceptible to hot spots.