Dogs get all of the nutrition they need and all the calories they need from a complete and balanced dog food. Treats that are given in addition to a dog's regular diet add calories, fat and extra nutrients that may not be good for your dog.

The Risks of Excessive Treats

The extra calories contained in dog treats and people food can be a leading issue in giving treats. These extra calories, if not burned off through extra play and exercise, can lead to weight gain and even obesity, which carries with it increased risk of a number of dangerous issues.

In addition to extra calories and fat, people food can also raise a host of additional problems. The wrong food in the wrong doses can result in unexpected consequences. To avoid these, the safest thing to do is never supplement you dog's diet with people food.

Responsible Use of Treats

A safe way to use food as treats is to measure out your dog's daily allowance of kibble in the morning and dip into that for training treats. This way you can give your dog a food reward for a job well done while not worrying about causing any problems.

Of course, it is possible to use manufactured dog treats responsibly. Simply remember that if you feed your dog treats, they should be low fat like Purina® Beggin Strips® and you must reduce your dog's caloric intake accordingly to accommodate for the extra calories.