Treating Your Pug Right; Best Treats For Your Pug

Pugs are lovingly, snortingly and adorably our best friends. bred specifically to be companions for humans, it is no wonder they make wonderful household canines.  They are more than happy to give us a good laugh and a good cuddle, so why shouldn’t we give them great treats? We’ve already covered what’s the best dog food for pugs, now it’s time to shine some light on some of the best dog treats for your furry little companion.

Treats for Your Pug – Summary of Do’s and Don’ts

If you’re browsing pug breeders or rescues and are thinking about getting a pug puppy, are are new to dogs in general, there are many do’s and don’ts to consider.

• Know what you can feed your pug – Table scraps are obviously going to be the most popular “dog treat” they’ll snack on over the course of their life. Thus the #1 most important thing you should know is what foods a dog should never eat.
• Don’t over do it – It’s well known pugs are very food motivated, thus susceptible to being overweight, which can lead to a lot of health problems for pugs, thus shortening their lifespan.
• Be aware of allergens – Note which foods cause allergic reactions to your pug, it could be as subtle as itchiness or sneezing. With my last pug, Benji, I found that animals with feathers (chicken, turkey) had more of a negative reaction for him then say salmon.

Pug Treats for Better Health

It is not a secret that Pugs are prone to obesity. It’s suffice to say that I’ve seldom seen Benji say no to any treat. Nonetheless, feeding your little companion should be a mindful and healthful decision so that he can live a long and happy life with you. Keep in mind that any grains and foods such as corn, soy, rice and wheat turn into sugars in your dog’s body.  That sugar then turns to fat.  You can feed grain free treats found at your local pet food store if you just want to offer your dog a quick snack.

If you’re going to splurge for dog treats, you might as well get some with some science backed supplements in them. 

Think about what you’re deficient in. Your average healthy human being is tends to be deficient in DHA’s/Omega 3’s and Vitamin D. 

You can start with their dog food, that’s the most important. From there, you can start supplementing what they need.

Pugs can also suffer from health conditions just as any other dog breed, but they are prone to some skin, fur and eye conditions. For that reason, treats high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon can both treat your dog and help keep his body in good working order.

• My (and my Pug’s) Favorite – One Ingredient Beef Liver. Most dog treats are filled with filler and processed junk. These are a tiny bit pricier, but worth every penny.
• For my new pug puppy “Lats”, I’m using Blue Buffalo Training Treats, at just $6 a bag it does have DHA to support brain development. No affiliation with them, but Blue Buffalo has always been considered to be a top ranked, and well regarded dog food brand.
• Greenies – It’s inevitable. Your pug’s breath is going to stink. Maybe it’s a flat-faced dog thing haha? But these oral treats help fight plaque and tarter, and give them something to chew on. I also occasionally add a fluoride additive to my pug’s water to help as well.
• For the older pugs, my last pug, Benji, loved Pet Botanics Omega Treats (recall that he loves salmon and digests it very well), with the big bag ringing in at about $18.

I’d highly recommend supplementing with Omega-3’s when your pug is a puppy as it will help with the all important eye development. At a few months old, Benji was a little “wall eyed,” but I feel as though the treats and some eye training (as recommended on a forum) did help him out. If your pug is a little older, treats with glucosamine and MSM exist to help pooches whom suffer from arthritis or hip dysplasia. Dental chews are another good option.

Pug Treats for Rewards

Dogs need to be trained! Even the smallest and sweetest of Pugs need to be trained, and science tells us that training with positive reinforcement creates the most reliable of behaviors. Dogs who are given the chance to associate trained behaviors with a positive emotion are more likely to repeat those behaviors again and again! The right treat can really make or break your training regimen!

While teaching your dog to sit, you don’t want to reward him with a large biscuit that requires a lot of chewing. If your Pug has to stop his learning to work on eating his treat, you have lost his attention and have dramatically slowed down his learning process. Instead, use a high value treat that is very small and very quickly eaten. Small bits of real meat or cheese work well for this. You can cut up a piece of meat into bits that are big enough to hold by small enough to not need chewing. You can do the same with quality cheese, but remember to use cheese only on occasion to prevent weight gain. As your Pug quickly swallows the treat, his attention is back on to you in seconds!

I like getting the best bang for buck, and with these bacon flavored treats you’re getting 200 for about $5… plenty to train your pug. Oh and by the way, have you seen our guide on how to train a pug?

Make Your Own Dog Treats

If you are in the mood to get creative and make your own Pug treats!  You don’t need flour or artificial flavors to make healthy and delicious dog treats.  You can treat your Pug simply with a mixture of mashed bananas and almond butter mixed together. Spoon the mix into ice cube trays then freeze over night.

If you want to bake your own dog treats, many grain free and all natural recipes are available all over the Internet. Search for the key words ‘home made dog treats’ and add in any specific ingredients you want to include, such as liver or yogurt.

Treat Safely (and know what table scraps you can’t give your dog)

Before you give your dog any treat or decide to make one for him, take a look at a list of toxic or poisonous foods that will make your Pug sick. There’s a lot of talk about “should we stop breeding pugs?” however I think we should think more about how we raise our pugs with good health to live a long and happy life.

If you avoid those foods and choose ones with real health benefits you and your Pug will be in for a real treat!

Oh, and since we’re entering summer I just wanted to chime in that it’s important to keep your pug cool! Checkout this guide by Pugs and Kisses on Keeping Your Pug Cool as it Gets Hot!