We've all seen those commercials with the adorable dogs begging and drooling for those dog treats that look and smell like people food, promising to offer even better dog food nutrition. You love your dog and you want to be able to give them a special treat every now and then, after all... how can you resist that lovely little head tilt, and those pleading eyes and possible even a cute little "come on%u2026 don'cha love me" whimper.



Naturally this makes you want to cave and give the lovable little pup the treat he deserves. If you aren't giving homemade dog treat then you could be doing more harm then good. The better thing to do is to pet him in the head and tell him how you love him before you reach for one of those doggie treats.

From purely a digestive stand point, your dog doesn't need any extra snacks to get him through the day. Giving your pup those extra treats is actually contributing to the growing problem of pet obesity. Obesity can cause a number of health problems including diabetes, GI problems, cardiovascular problems, even immune and respiratory problems just to name a few. Think about it this way, you wouldn't give your youngster treats every time they looked at you with a cute face, don't give into your four legged little one either.

I know how tempting it can be to give your dog people food as well. I understand the thought process of, "It's safe for us to eat," the fact is that it could potentially make your dog very sick and possible kill them. Items such as baby food, many of which contain onion powder can be toxic to dogs.

Fish, poultry and other meat bones can actually cause obstructions in the digestive system, even cause lacerations. Have another little four legged feline friend, it isn't okay to have them share the cat food either. Cat food is usually too high in fats and proteins for dogs. The infamous fat trimmings from the juicy steak you enjoyed can actually cause pancreatitis in your dog.

There are many very good dog foods available that will offer your dog all the nutrition they need. You can also look at holistic dog food that can be bought from your vet or you may even consider homemade dog food and homemade dog treats. There are a number of sites on the internet that provide free dog food recipes.

Really let them know you love them by making sure you are thinking of their long term health and not just instant gratification.

Find out more about the best way to take care of you dog, whether you're looking for homemade dog food recipes or puppy training tips, check out The Pooch Place . Join other pet owners who share and learn from each other the best ways to take care of their babies.