A Professional Guide to Dog Treats: Safe Use, Smart Choices & Species‑Appropriate Options

Treats play an important role in training, enrichment, and relationship‑building. However, they should remain an addition to your dog’s diet—not a replacement for balanced meals.

📌 General guideline: Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily intake. If your dog is gaining weight or losing interest in their main meals, reducing treats is the first step toward restoring balance.

How Many Treats Should My Dog Have?

A simple way to calculate treat allowance:

• Dog eating 1kg/day → up to 100g treats, 900g food

• Dog eating 500g/day → up to 50g treats, 450g food

Keeping treats within this limit helps maintain nutritional consistency.

Using Raw Food as Training Rewards

Raw food can be an effective training tool.

• Raw mince works well in washable squeezy tubes

• Remove the elastic insert from the lid to allow the mince to flow smoothly.

• Minimise exposure to warm temperatures to prevent spoilage.

This approach keeps training aligned with your dog’s usual diet.

Training Treats for Raw‑Fed Dogs

If you’re feeding raw and training simultaneously, single‑protein treats are ideal.

Example: Feeding chicken this week? Use a chicken‑based pâté such as JR Pet Products. Dice, freeze, and defrost small portions daily for convenience.

Where to Buy High‑Quality Dog Treats

🐾 Local Pet Stores

Specialist raw and natural pet shops often stock high‑quality, minimally processed treats.

🖥 Online Retailers

Shops such as Just Ere for Treats offer a wide selection of natural treats.

📦 Subscription Boxes

Services like Raw Paws Emporium curate treats from DEFRA‑approved UK producers.

What to Look For in Dog Treats

✔ Whole ingredients — real meats, fruits, vegetables

✔ Clear sourcing — UK/EU farms for consistent standards

✔ Quality assurance — DEFRA approval or similar regulatory standards

⚠ Avoid cheap bulk buys unless you can confirm trustworthy sourcing.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Treats

❌ Choosing low‑quality fillers or artificial additives

❌ Skipping customer reviews

❌ Not checking for grains or synthetic additives that may not suit your dog

Recommended Treat Categories

Meaty Treats

Beef jerky, lung bites, liver bites, tripe

Braided camel, goat, lamb

Kangaroo jerky rolls, wild boar sticks

Furry Treats (Natural Fibre)

Hairy rabbit ears, venison ears, goat ears

Hairy beef skin, beef snout

Seafood‑Based Treats

Dried sprats, fish skin

Freeze‑dried whole quail

Flounder, halibut

Specialty Chews

• Trachea (raw or dehydrated): Feed as‑is or stuff with raw food and freeze

• Pizzles & ligaments: Raw, frozen, or dehydrated

• Antlers: ⚠ May pose a risk to teeth or cause choking

• Avoid rawhide — heavily processed and chemically treated

  
  

Pâté & Soft Training Treats

Popular options include:

• Drool Pet Products

• JR Pet Products

📌 Storage: Keep opened pâté in a sealed container in the fridge and use within packaging guidelines, or freeze portions.

Tree Roots, Fur Treats & Yak Chews

• Tree roots: Useful for teething puppies

• Fur treats: Provide natural fibre; introduce gradually (2–3× weekly)

• Yak chews: Research production methods before deciding if they suit your dog

  
  

Choosing Bones Safely

Select bones appropriate for your dog’s size and age.

⚠ Never feed cooked bones—they can splinter.

📌 Learn more in our Raw Meaty Bones blog.

Dehydrating Treats at Home

Dehydrating is a great enrichment activity, though not always cheaper than buying from raw‑feeding shops.

Best Practices

• Slice thinly for quicker drying

• Use 70°C for all animal‑based products

• Ensure your oven can safely reach this temperature

• Store in airtight glass jars to prevent moisture build‑up

  
  

Treats as Meal Boosters

Treats aren’t limited to snacks. They can also be nutrient‑boosting additions to meals—such as vegetables, fruits, or homemade toppers.

Explore ideas in our Recipes section.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right treats is about more than flavour—it’s about quality, safety, and supporting your dog’s overall diet. Whether you use pâté for training, fur for fibre, or meaty chews for enrichment, selecting well‑sourced, minimally processed treats helps keep your dog healthy and happy.

For more inspiration, many owners enjoy the Dehydrated Dog Treats Facebook group (not affiliated but highly knowledgeable)!