LOW FAT TRAINING TREATS ROUNDUP
WE ALL WANT THE BEST FOR OUR DOGS DON'T WE, BUT WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AFTER THEIR WEIGHT AND THEIR HEALTH, TRAINING TREATS CAN BE A BIT OF A MINEFIELD.
We use training treats on a daily basis, lots of them, to reward Moo Moo and Bear when they offer the behaviours we want to see more of, or when focussed on retiring skills. They have been an integral part of our daily routine from day one of puppy hood. Our reasons for using them may have changed over time, but there is always a reason for reward, in fact several on a daily basis.
WHY LOW FAT TRAINING TREATS FOR YOUR DOG?
There are a variety of reasons why you would choose low fat treats for your dog, from issues with weight to activity levels, or high volume of treats due to particular training needs.
While modifications to your dog’s diet are sometimes in their best interest, the good news is there are lots of low-fat dog treat options on the market, so there’s no reason you can’t continue to reward your dog with a tasty treat, no matter what their dietary restrictions might be.
WHY USE TRAINING TREATS?
What is your dog willing to work for? Think of your treats in the same way as being paid....remember that pay rise? We always use high value treats for essential behaviour we want, when training or to simply keep them safe with a stella recall.
Food can be such a powerful reinforcer. It's considered to be the primary reinforcer for most dogs. Simply put, it increases the likelihood of the skill you are wanting. You teach a dog to sit using rewards, they are more likely to repeat such a behaviour.
They also need to be super handy, your dog needs paying immediately for a behaviour, so you can't promise them a steak dinner on Saturday night, as much as they would enjoy that, they would have no idea why they are getting it.
So portable is key - if I asked you to check your pockets now, would you find some? I'm sure we all have them, but could you say the same about a tennis ball?
WHEN DO YOU USE DOG TRAINING TREATS
Training treats are great to use in the following variety of situations:
- Recall
- New Skills
- Back to basics skills
- Trick training
- Puppy Training
- Grooming
- Positive reinforcement
- At the V E T's
- Enrichment
LOW FAT TRAINING REAT ROUNDUP
We put the girls to work and have tried and tested (it wasn't a chore, I assure you) a selection of training treats all with less than 10% fat content to take the hard work out of shopping for treats for your dog.
All prices were correct at the time of publishing (October 2021)
INNOCENT HOUND TUNA & CRAB REWARDS
FLAVOUR: Tuna & Crab
INGREDIENTS: Tuna fillet (44%), British crab (26%), rapeseed glycerine, sweet potato, minerals, parsley
FAT CONTENT: 1.45%
PACK WEIGHT: 70g
PRICE: £4.50
The resealable pouches are 100% recyclable, and once opened, the food will remain fresh for up to eight weeks.
BIG WIN: Gently air dried to retain nutrients and flavour, and made right here in Yorkshire.
JR PURE PATE
FLAVOUR: Turkey
INGREDIENTS: 100% Turkey
FAT CONTENT: 9.1%
PACK WEIGHT: 80g, 200g and 400g
PRICE: £1.99 - £3.89
Suitable from 4 weeks
Slice, dice or chop, JR Pure Pate comes in chubs of 3 sizes, so these treats can be chopped into any size suitable for your dog. They do however need to be kept in the fridge once open and used within 3 days, but we normally freeze our cubes and take out what is required.
BIG WIN: 100% meat
SOOPA HEALTHY BITES
FLAVOUR: Cranberry and sweet potato
INGREDIENTS: Whole potato flour, potato starch, vag glycerine, cranberry pieces dried 4%, calcium carbonate, sweet potato powder 2%, flaxseed milled 2%
FAT CONTENT: 2.69%
PACK WEIGHT: 50g
PRICE: £2.99
Suitable for dogs over 6 months
You get 50 small flower shaped treats in each pack which comes in its own resealable plastic much which is perfect to take out with you if you don't have a treat bag. A firm texture means no crumbling in your pockets.
BIG WIN: Vegan friendly and meat free for those with protein intolerances.
POPPYS PICNIC
FLAVOUR: PURE PHEASANT BITES
INGREDIENTS: 100% British Air Dried Pheasant Breast
FAT CONTENT: 3.1%
PACK WEIGHT: 60g
PRICE: £5.75
Suitable from 8 weeks
Did you know Poppy's Picnic is owned by Schnauzers? Yes...that's a BIG hit in my books, plus the fact that these are 100% meat and nothing else. The feeding guide advises only 5 daily, and as much as I tried to cut them down, they are too hard, and rather large so limits use as a training treat in my books, but the girls most certainly came back for more!
BIG WIN: 100% meat
ANCO FUSIONS
FLAVOUR: Duck infused Beef Treats
INGREDIENTS: Beef Meal (min 60%), Potato, Duck Meal (min 4%), vegetable Oil
Fat Content: 9%
PACK WEIGHT: 120G
Price £2.69
These are the perfect size for training, and you get a substantial amount in the pack to last you a while. I've had two schnauzers hanging around with the delicious aroma of them.
BIG WIN: Cold pressed
BY BENJI BILTONG
FLAVOUR: Silverside beef biltong
INGREDIENTS: Raw premium grade Beef, Vinegar, Sea Salt, Garlic, Natural Herbs
FAT CONTENT: 8.8g/100g
PACK WEIGHT: 70g
PRICE: £6.99
The bees knees in high value treat, these would be perfect for training essential skills such as recall.
BIG WIN: IRRESISTIBLE!
JR PET PRODUCTS TRAINING TREATS
FLAVOUR: Venison
INGREDIENTS: 100% Venison
FAT CONTENT: 5%
PACK WEIGHT: 85g
PRICE: £4.99
Suitable from 4 weeks
These are great bitesized chunks in recyclable and resealable packaging. A trusted source of treat for Moo Moo & Bear, who I know come back for more!
Big Win: 100% pure meat and small bitesized pieces.
So that's our roundup of popular and low fat training treats on the market. If you get a mega recall from the treats you use, we would love to know your secret and share your 'go to' treats with us below.