Healthy human food snack treats which are safe and good for your dog

Bread is high in calories and should only be fed to your dog in SMALL quantities. Use good, healthy wholemeal bread as the fibre is good for your dogs digestion. Toast a slice of wholemeal bread then cut into small square croûton shapes. Allow to cool. Place the crunchy cubes in an airtight box. Only use healthy wholemeal bread. Do not use white or fruited raisin bread as raisins are poisonous to dogs.

Cut up carrots, cucumber, courgette or any dog friendly vegetables into small pieces. Keep in the fridge in an airtight box. These tasty treats are great for summer days, especially if you are out and about and your pooch needs a little healthy treat or snack.

Your dog can have a healthy snack of carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices, peas or zucchini. All these are excellent for your dog. They can be cooked, eaten raw or even frozen, chopped into small treat size chunks. Beets are a superfood for your dog. Beets for example are packed full of nutritional goodies. They contain beta-carotene, fibre, iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B and C, just to start. On top of their laundry list of vitamins and minerals, beets are also well-regarded as being of particular benefit for liver health and are frequently used for cleansing and detoxifying. If your dog has a liver ailment, beets could do him a world of good. Even if your dog is completely healthy, beets still make a tasty and healthy snack.

If your dog is averse to eating veggies, be patient and keep enticing them, bit by bit. Just like children, dogs do get used to the taste of vegetables and start enjoying them as part of their diet. A whole carrot is also a healthy chew toy for your dog to munch on, chill it in the fridge before giving them it on a hot sunny day!

Green beans are a good source of plant fibre, vitamin K, vitamin C, and manganese. If your dog has a tendency to put on weight, then replace some of their regular food with green beans. Green beans are a low calorie way to fill them up and help them maintain a healthy weight. Many dogs actually enjoy green beans frozen.

Frozen fruit and banana chunks are another tasty treat, perfect for the summer. Apples, for example are a great crunchy treat for your dog. Apples with the skin on are full of plant chemicals (phytonutrients) that are thought to be protective against some types of cancer in humans. They are also a source of vitamins A and C and fibre. Just make sure you remove any seeds, pips or stems. Apple seeds and some fruit stones contain cyanide so make sure your dog doesn’t eat the core. Other fruits that are good for your dog are melon (seeds removed), pineapple, oranges, berries and kiwi fruits.

Poached chicken with the skin and any bones removed is an ideal lean meat treat to feed your dog. It’s high in protein and is also perfect as a small meal if they have had a stomach upset. Chicken is also rich in potassium, calcium and contains no carbohydrates. Poach a small chicken breast until thoroughly cooked. Chop into small chunks and place in a small Tupperware container and refrigerate. Use within a couple of days.

Tofu hot dogs are low in calories and better for your dog than sausage meat based ones. Slice them into small chunks and keep refrigerated in an airtight box. One tofu hot dog sliced up can go a long way!

Sweet potatoes are not as starchy as regular potatoes and are great for chopping up cooked for a doggy treat. Sweet potatoes are another source of dietary fibre and contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, beta carotene, and manganese.Boil or bake then chop into cubes. Box and refrigerate.

Yes, popcorn is good healthy snack for your dog. It’s tasty, crunchy and easy to make. Just make sure it is UNSALTED, UNSWEETENED or NONBUTTERED. Making it at home and ‘air popping’ it is better than buying the store bought varieties. Popcorn provides your dog with calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. It’s great for dog training or just watching your favourite doggy movie, together with your canine pal!

Pumpkins and squashes are great healthy vegetables for your dog, as they are low in calories and are a great source of fibre. Pumpkin is a good source of fibre and beta carotene (a source of vitamin A). Squash can be baked, then remove the seeds and cut it into treat size portions and freeze it. It is great for a dogs anal glands and prevents constipation due to it’s high fibre content. These are best to be cooked first and seeds removed, before feeding pieces to your dog.

Eggs are a great source of very digestible protein, riboflavin, and selenium. For some dogs that are prone to digestive upset, eggs can give them a little protein boost. If you do a lot of training with your dog, consider taking chopped boiled eggs to your next class as a training treat.

Peanut butter is a healthy, high-protein treat for dogs. It’s also a good source of vitamins and contains healthy fats that are good for your dog. It also contains protein, folic acid and vitamin E. But stick to all-natural peanut butter without added salt or sugar. Try smearing some inside or on one of your dog’s toys, or let him lick out the container when it’s almost finished. Only give them peanut butter in small quantities though.

Why not have a go at making your own doggie treats? You will be surprised how many dog cookbooks have been published in the past few years. From small mutt munchies to making meals for your canine, you can cook them up a healthy meal, knowing full well what’s gone into it. Just let’s hope your dog actually eats it after you have gone to all that trouble…as we all know dogs can be your worst critic! There are some great dog recipe books that can inspire you and they also make a perfect quirky gift for any loving dog owner.