Can Dogs Have Treats on a Raw Food Diet?

Oct 9

2 min read

You’ve got a beautifully balanced bowl of raw dog food ready to go.

Then your dog looks at you.

One head tilt. One pair of puppy eyes. Suddenly, you're reaching for the treat jar.

Sound familiar?

The good news is that dogs eating raw food can still have treats. The trick is making sure those extras don't take over their diet.

A complete raw dog food diet is designed to provide the nutrients your dog needs.

Treats, on the other hand, are usually there for enjoyment, training, enrichment or simply because your dog has perfected the art of asking.

That means treats shouldn't replace a nutritionally complete meal.

Think of dinner as the main event and treats as the encore.

When possible, look for simple treats made from recognizable ingredients.

Single-ingredient animal treats can be a straightforward option, such as dehydrated meat or organ treats.

You can also use small pieces of your dog's regular food as rewards, particularly during training.

And remember that treats still contribute calories. How many your dog needs depends on their size, age, activity level and overall diet.

Whether you're feeding raw dog food in Bali or anywhere else, the same basic principle applies:

A good diet doesn't need to be complicated.

Start with a properly formulated complete diet, then keep treats and extras appropriate for your individual dog.

Because sometimes your dog doesn't actually need another snack.

They just need you to admire them for five minutes.

Final Thought

Treats aren't the enemy.

Just keep them in their proper place — a little something extra, rather than the foundation of your dog's nutrition.

Although your dog will probably argue otherwise.

Recent Posts