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Dogs love treats! In my Great Dane opinion my humans don’t give me nearly as many treats as I would like. Treats come in at least 9 different types but they are all treats your Great Dane will love.
List of treat types
- Crunchy
- Soft and chewy
- Lick-able
- Dental chews
- Long lasting
- Freeze-dried
- Jerky treats
- Human food
- Home-baked treats
Descriptions of these treat types
Crunchy treats. These are the traditional hard biscuit treats which are low in moisture. My typical crunchy treats are Charlee Bear which are supposed to be good for my teeth, low calorie and come in lots of flavors. Since they are easy to store I get these on walkies when I behave myself.
Soft and chewy treats come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and flavors and are sniffably good! The problem with these is that my humans always break them up into really small pieces mumbling something about not letting me get fat.
Lick-able treats come in squeezable tubes or pouches. However, my favorite lick-able treat is peanut butter! I never mind when my humans leave for a while since that’s when my Kong gets filled with this wonderful stuff. Just make sure that your peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol.
Dental chews are tasty stick-shaped treats made of firm, digestible material. Pet dental health is so important that the month of February is pet dental health month. I only have these types of treats once in a while, I think Jenny forgets to buy them. Dental chews are supposed to keep teeth and gums healthy but I’m not supposed to swallow large pieces of them.
Long Lasting. Bully sticks are safe, long-lasting treats. I’ve only had one once and boy it was good. I need to remind my humans to buy some. They are all-natural beef pizzles, that’s another word for penis. Although they are easily digestible and rich in the amino acid taurine they can be a choking hazard. It is also important to buy quality ones, if they are not dried right they can be contaminated with bacteria.
Freeze-dried treats are a raw food that has had its moisture removed through a freezing and drying process that sometimes includes pasteurization to decrease bacteria. My friend Teri always brings me freeze-dried chicken when she visits. I love the stuff! I always behave myself when offered some. It’s as good as the rotisserie chicken carcass I stole out of the kitchen sink. (Ha, Jenny didn’t think I would notice it there from two rooms away.)
Jerky treats are slowly dehydrated strips of meat that are very tough and chewy. I frequently get jerky treats in my Qwizl toy. Or they get cut up small for treats on walkies. If you don’t know what a Qwizl is you can check it out at the post called Puzzle toy to keep a Great Dane busy.
Human food. Occasionally some human food will show up in my food bowl or mixed in with my regular food. Carrots and apples are healthy dog treats. Pumpkin or rice is good when I need some extra fiber. Of course, my favorite is peanut butter! (Or there is the chicken carcass I stole from the sink, it would have been nice if some meat had been left on it. I don’t recommend eating bird bones though.)
Home baked treats. Jenny made some treats with bacon and peanut butter for my Qwizl toy. The great thing about home-baked is that your Great Dane’s favorite flavors can be added and put in your favorite treat puzzle toy.
Treats to not give a Great Dane
Rawhide. Lots of dogs love their rawhide chews, but this popular treat really has some drawbacks. Made from leather industry leftovers soaked in lime and salt brine, they already don’t sound very good. Additionally they are hard to digest and can be contaminated with Salmonella or Escherichia coli (E. coli) that can get me sick. It can also cause choking or intestinal obstruction if swallowed, back to that hard to digest quality. Bully sticks are a safer alternative for a long lasting chew.
Flavored pig’s ears, bones, beef hooves, etc. also aren’t a particularly healthful treat choice. Bones, antlers or hooves can chip my teeth and slivers can cause intestinal problems. Pig’s ears are very high in fat, and some brands of ears and hooves have been linked to Salmonella outbreaks in both pets and people.
Remember, treats are yummy but high in calories, too. You don’t want a pudgy pup! No matter which type of treats your Great Dane loves, keep them to less than 10% of their diet. Use treats as a reward for good behavior, and both you and your dog will keep moving toward the best life ever.
