Just like a human diet, your dogs diet needs to be well balanced. That means the occasional treat is fine (especially if you’re training) provided that the majority of the dog food you provide is rich in nutrition and that the dog gets lots of exercise.

For training, treats are often an essential training tool, so I’m not say you should disregard all dog treats. Just keep in mind that moderation is key! An interesting article on this can be found at “How Treats Affect Your Dogs Diet”.

So how do you know if you’re feeding your dog the right food? That’s definitely a tricky question, and in general I would advise visiting your vet who’ll be able to recommend some high quality food. In general though, you get what you pay for. The cheapest dog food is likely to be made up of mainly filler and very little actual meat which your dog definitely needs.

Remember that just because your dog enjoys a treat of a certain type of food doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the healthiest option. On the whole, dogs aren’t fussy about their food, as I’m sure you know! There;s been a lot of talk about the quality of dog food recently, mainly sparked by “Dog Food Secrets“.

Along with providing a healthy, balanced diet exercise is crucial. It’s alarming how many dogs around the world are actually obese from over feeding and a lack of exercise, don’t let your dog become one of these! Different breeds require different amounts of exercise, with the bigger dogs generally requiring more. You should endeavour to give your dog at least one period of prolonged exercise in the day, not only for the health benefits but also because your dog needs to be active to avoid boredom.

Like anything in life, there is always too much of a good thing when it comes to dog treats. Keep your treats to only what is required, and you could end up with a much healthier dog.