The best “just for fun” treats we know of are marrow bones. Our dogs have grown out of most rawhides but they will never grow too old to enjoy bones. Dogs can spend 30 minutes chewing at a marrow bone—fully occupied, fully focused, fully satisfied. If they do that a couple of times a week, it’ll help keep their teeth clean! Combined with a raw diet (that also includes bones), you will greatly reduce the need for brushing and professional cleanings.
Nature’s toothbrush: sticks and bones
- We ask the butcher to cut them 3-4 inches long – small enough so the dog can get the marrow out of the center, but large enough to be interesting.
- Serve them raw – don’t cook them – cooking hardens the bones too much. (The risks are cracking teeth and splinters.) Don’t let them sit out more than a day for the same reason – they’ll harden on their own.
- Keep the bones in the freezer to minimize gunk on the floor. Your dog will take care of most of the rest of the gunk!
Another favorite time-killer is the bully stick. It’s gotten harder to find these made-in-the-USA but we always keep an eye out. We’ve been happy with Redbarn because we know they use free-range, grass-fed bull muscle. Like the marrow bone, these sticks will clean the gums and teeth, and provide a long period of entertainment.
Have you discovered the Kong Classic dog toy yet? We can captivate the dogs easily by putting a couple tablespoons of peanut butter into a Kong toy.
We have a few favorite treats we grab out of the cookie jar just prior to leaving our dogs at home alone:
- Real Meat Long Jerky Stix
- Aunt Jeni Rabbit Lungs, Chicken Feet, Duck Feet
- Primal Freeze-Dried Formula (food cubes)
- Redbarn Pig Ears and Porky Slices
They LOVE these and actually get excited for our departure. (And yes, I’m SURE it’s the treats they’re excited about.) They are more substantial than a training treat, yet only last about a minute, so we don’t need to worry about the dogs arguing over them once we’re gone.
The list goes on and on. We always have some little dog cookies around the house, readily available for rewarding good behavior. You’ll see plenty on the market – just make you make healthy choices. In this article, we’ve shared our very favorites. I hope your dogs will enjoy them as much as ours have!
