Best Snacks
The Best Snacks, Training Treats, and Edibles Chewsfor a Chihuahua
Overview
The goodies that you give to your Chihuahua aside from their regular meals such as snacks, training treats, and edible chews are an important part of a healthy diet and generally account for 15 to 20% of a puppy or dog's overall nutritional intake.
This articles covers the differences between these types of treats, how each can be beneficial, and recommendations for the best healthy choices.
Don't want to read the details and just want to dive into our recommendations?
Jump to: List of the Best Snacks, Training Treats, and Chews for Chihuahuas.
The Unique Aspects of Snacks, Training Treats, and Edible Chews
Though some people may use these words interchangeably, there are important differences in these 3 types of goodies and understanding these aspects will help you offer these to your Chihuahua in the most beneficial ways.
Snacks.
Dog snacks refer to small morsels of food that are given to a puppy or dog in between meals. Snacks serve several purposes. Eating a small snack satiates the appetite while waiting for the next large meal. And since small toy breeds like the Chihuahua are prone to drops in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) if they go too long without food, it helps keep blood glucose levels even.
To do their job in the best way possible, snacks should be dry foods. These may also be labeled as crunchy or baked.
Training Treats.
As the name implies, this sort of goodie is meant to be given to a puppy or dog as a reward when they are being trained. Training treats are used when housebreaking, command training, and teaching a Chihuahua to heel. These are also used to reinforce good behavior such as learning to not bark at other dogs or remaining calm when visitors come to the house.
The idea is to offer a quick and tasty burst of flavor in a small package that will not make a dog feel full (since multiple treats may be given during training sessions) and that is perceived as 'high value' to send a strong, powerful message of a job well done.
To have the most effective impact, training treats should be small, soft (may also be labeled as 'chewy'), be packed with flavor (distinctive tastes such as bacon, cheese, duck, liver, and more are best), and be something that is not given to a Chihuahua at any other times other than training sessions.
Edible chews. These types of chews for Chihuahuas are consumable pieces of food with a hard or 'tough' yet chewy and flexible consistency that require lots of chewing time to be fully ingested. Chews can keep a dog occupied and can be very helpful with dogs that have strong chewing urges and like to work their jaws. Dental chews are included in this category since they are designed to remove plaque via a hard and firm texture scraping against teeth and these play a big role in at-home dental care.
Some chews, like rawhide or pig's ears, can be choking hazards for dogs. Details on choosing safe chews are ahead.
Qualities of the Best Treats and Snacks
You may be wondering what sets apart one snack versus another or what it is that makes a training treat a really good one. And the answer is, quite a bit. Most importantly, some of the ingredients in subpar dog snacks and treats can cause allergic reactions and some are linked to health issues including organ damage, neurological issues, and more.
So, before we move on to our top picks, let's take a quick look at what to look for:
All-natural.
Opt for all-natural options to steer very clear of synthetic preservatives, food coloring dyes, and flavor enhancers. These can cause a host of issues including skin reactions (rash, itching), stomach and digestive problems, and a wide range of both short-term and long-term health issues.
Ethoxyquin (which due to a legal loophole does not always need to be listed as an ingredient) and butylated hydroxyanisole are dangerous chemical preservatives banned from human foods but allowed in dog food and treats. Certain dyes can be harmful including Yellow # 5 which is linked to hyperactivity, aggression, and insomnia, red #40 which contains known carcinogens, and Blue #2 which is linked to allergies and brain tumors. MSG and soy (both flavor enhancers) can cause allergies.
Note that many top-quality dog snacks and treats use a vitamin blend (may be listed as mixed tocopherols) and/or herbs (rosemary, spearmint, etc.) as natural preservatives.
Wheat-free or grain-free.
When a dog is deemed allergic to grains, in many cases it is actually gluten that is the main problem. So, while going grain-free is certainly a healthy option, it's definitely best to at least avoid wheat and rye (and their by-products) which contain high levels of gluten.
Wholesome ingredients.
When checking what's in a doggie treat, skip anything with the word 'by-product' along with a certain meat (for example, chicken by-product). This sort of by-product refers to just about any animal body part that is deemed unfit for human consumption (lungs, kidneys, undeveloped eggs, spinal tissue, etc.). And run from any treat with the word 'generic meat' since this means it can be derived from diseased zoo animals, road kill, expired meat from grocery stores (with the Styrofoam or other packaging thrown into the mix), and other similar sources.
You'll want to see actual whole foods such as chicken, salmon, peanut butter, blueberries, etc.
No fillers.
Fillers are very inexpensive ingredients that are sometimes added to dog food products to lower the overall cost of manufacturing. A top example is corn which is not the sweet and nutritious corn you may serve at dinner but is a coarse cattle-grade type that is hard to digest (there are plenty of other vegetable options if a dog food company simply wanted to add in vitamins and minerals). Other fillers include the hulls of any food (peanut, oat, cottonseed, rice, etc.), and any term that contains the word 'wheat' (wheat middlings, wheat mill run, etc.).
Made in the USA (or Canada or New Zealand).
Dog snacks and treats made in China or with ingredients sources from China are risky. A main reason stems from what started in 2007 involving jerky-based treats that killed thousands of dogs in the US and other countries. Though it has yet to be discovered what killed so many pets, some of the treats tested positive for high levels of illegal sulfur-based antibiotics and anti-viral products.
In regard to any sort of treat made in China or other countries overseas that have very loose laws regarding pet food, melamine is often used as animal feed which ends up in dog snacks; it is a toxin used in the making of plastic that is linked to serious health issues including kidney stones and and bladder cancer.
Be sure to read labels very carefully, including the back of packaging, and stay with treats made in North America (USA or Canada). New Zealand is also a country that manufacturers a good amount of dog food products while having excellent standards of quality.
List of the Best Snacks, Training Treats, and Chews for Chihuahuas
The 3 Best Dry Dog Snacks
As a quick reminder, snacks refer to tidbits given to a Chihuahua to keep them happy in between meals and are dry and crunchy morsels. Keeping in mind all of the strict guidelines of what makes a dog snack awesome, here are our top 3 picks:
#1. Bandit's Biscuits All Natural Dog Treats
. We just love the short list of wholesome ingredients in these all-natural baked round cookies. And there are 3 awesome flavor options: blueberry, cheese & bacon, and peanut butter. There are no additives, soy, wheat, by-products, fillers, or gluten. And these are made in the USA. As an added plus, these come in a handy resealable bag to help keep them fresh.
. We just love the short list of wholesome ingredients in these all-natural baked round cookies. And there are 3 awesome flavor options: blueberry, cheese & bacon, and peanut butter. There are no additives, soy, wheat, by-products, fillers, or gluten. And these are made in the USA. As an added plus, these come in a handy resealable bag to help keep them fresh. #2. Fruitables Crunchy Dog Treats
. These are one of our top picks for several reasons. When it comes to flavor, it's hard to beat these scrumptious combos: Pumpkin & apple, pumpkin & banana, pumpkin & blueberry, pumpkin & cranberry, apple & bacon and sweet potato & pecan. You can get a variety pack that contains all of them or opt for individual bags. These contain zero wheat (but do have oats), and there's no additives, fillers, or by-products. And these are made in the USA. As an added bonus, these also come in resealable bags for freshness.
. These are one of our top picks for several reasons. When it comes to flavor, it's hard to beat these scrumptious combos: Pumpkin & apple, pumpkin & banana, pumpkin & blueberry, pumpkin & cranberry, apple & bacon and sweet potato & pecan. You can get a variety pack that contains all of them or opt for individual bags. These contain zero wheat (but do have oats), and there's no additives, fillers, or by-products. And these are made in the USA. As an added bonus, these also come in resealable bags for freshness. #3. Zuke’s Crunchy Natural Baked Treats
. If you're looking for even more variety, we'd be remiss to not include Zuke's. These are also 100% all-natural, with a short list of wholesome ingredients and a main base of oatmeal. There are 3 flavor options: berry (a tasty blend of cranberries, cherries, and blueberries), peanut butter & bananas, and sweet potato & pumpkin. There are no fillers, by-products, wheat, soy, or other additives and these are made in the USA. Zuke's also uses a resealable zip bag to help keep these goodies fresh.
. If you're looking for even more variety, we'd be remiss to not include Zuke's. These are also 100% all-natural, with a short list of wholesome ingredients and a main base of oatmeal. There are 3 flavor options: berry (a tasty blend of cranberries, cherries, and blueberries), peanut butter & bananas, and sweet potato & pumpkin. There are no fillers, by-products, wheat, soy, or other additives and these are made in the USA. Zuke's also uses a resealable zip bag to help keep these goodies fresh. The 3 Best Soft Training Treats
As a quick reminder, training treats should be used either to reward a Chihuahua when they are trying to learn something (house training, how to heel, etc.) or when you want to reinforce their good behavior (they remained calm instead of jumping on guests, etc.). Keeping in mind all of the qualities that treats should have to be both super-healthy and
effective, our top 3 picks are:
#1. Wellness Natural Wellbites Soft Dog Treats
. The Wellness company does a fantastic job of offering grain-free options with their kibble, snacks, and treats. This line of soft chews are ideal when training adult Chihuahuas; for young pups, there is the Soft Puppy Chews. Flavor combos are out-of-this world and sure to please even super-picky Chi; there is beef & turkey, chicken & lamb, chicken & venison, lamb & salmon, and turkey & duck. There is no corn or other fillers, soy, by-products, synthetic preservatives, or other additives and these are made in the USA. The bag has a resealable zip to help you keep the treats fresh.
. The Wellness company does a fantastic job of offering grain-free options with their kibble, snacks, and treats. This line of soft chews are ideal when training adult Chihuahuas; for young pups, there is the Soft Puppy Chews. Flavor combos are out-of-this world and sure to please even super-picky Chi; there is beef & turkey, chicken & lamb, chicken & venison, lamb & salmon, and turkey & duck. There is no corn or other fillers, soy, by-products, synthetic preservatives, or other additives and these are made in the USA. The bag has a resealable zip to help you keep the treats fresh. #2. Zuke's Mini Natural Training Dog Treats
. Zuke's is one of the best training treats for Chihuahua puppies and dogs for lots of reasons. These are all-natural high-quality treats with zero artificial ingredients, fillers, additives, or by-products. And these are made in the USA. But what really makes these goodies stand out is that these are tiny pellets which are the quintessential training treat shape (and perfect for small breeds like the Chihuahua), there are 6 amazing flavor options (chicken, duck, peanut butter & oats, pork, rabbit, and salmon), and there are 3 size options (6, 16, and 32 oz.) so you can really choose what works best for you and your particular Chi.
. Zuke's is one of the best training treats for Chihuahua puppies and dogs for lots of reasons. These are all-natural high-quality treats with zero artificial ingredients, fillers, additives, or by-products. And these are made in the USA. But what really makes these goodies stand out is that these are tiny pellets which are the quintessential training treat shape (and perfect for small breeds like the Chihuahua), there are 6 amazing flavor options (chicken, duck, peanut butter & oats, pork, rabbit, and salmon), and there are 3 size options (6, 16, and 32 oz.) so you can really choose what works best for you and your particular Chi. #3. Full Moon Organic Human Grade Training Treats
. The names says it all with these super-healthy training treats. These really are human-grade with limited wholesome ingredients. They stick with the basics of offering chicken (a classic taste most dogs adore) and duck (a savory flavor most cannot resist) and these are organic recipes. As you can imagine, there are no fillers, by-products, or artificial additives. And there's no corn, wheat, or soy. As an added bonus, these are sized specially for small breeds.
. The names says it all with these super-healthy training treats. These really are human-grade with limited wholesome ingredients. They stick with the basics of offering chicken (a classic taste most dogs adore) and duck (a savory flavor most cannot resist) and these are organic recipes. As you can imagine, there are no fillers, by-products, or artificial additives. And there's no corn, wheat, or soy. As an added bonus, these are sized specially for small breeds. The 3 Best Edible Chews for Chihuahuas
As a quick reminder, edible chews refers to treats with a very hard consistency that require work (lots of chewing) to eventually eat them. Chews such as pig's ears, rawhide, and bully sticks are dangerous and it is not recommended to give these to Chihuahuas (or any dogs). Dangers include choking, damage to the esophagus and/or digestion tract, internal blockage (which can be fatal), Salmonella or E. coli contamination to those who handle them, and ingestion of toxins (common in the processing of these sorts of products).
Fortunately, there are some great alternatives. Keeping in mind everything needed to qualify a chew as being healthy and top-quality, here are our top 3 picks:
#1. Brutus & Barnaby Sweet Potato Dog Treats
. It's impossible
to go wrong with these chews because there is literally one ingredient, sweet potatoes, which are a great source of fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, B6, and C. These super-healthy treats naturally have a variety of shapes and sizes and it's easy to cut or tear the larger ones into more manageable sizes for small Chihuahuas. These rawhide alternatives are made in the USA and Canada. And, as an added plus come in a resealable bag to keep them fresh.
. It's impossible
to go wrong with these chews because there is literally one ingredient, sweet potatoes, which are a great source of fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, B6, and C. These super-healthy treats naturally have a variety of shapes and sizes and it's easy to cut or tear the larger ones into more manageable sizes for small Chihuahuas. These rawhide alternatives are made in the USA and Canada. And, as an added plus come in a resealable bag to keep them fresh. #2. fetch fries Organic Dog Treats
. These are another really awesome chew that's super tasty and healthy for Chihuahuas. These have limited ingredients of just organic chicken, organic sweet potato, vegetable glycerin (from vegetable oil), vinegar powder, and rosemary (as a natural preservative). As you may have guessed by the name, these fetch fries look like french fries. Their consistency is chewy and flexible, similar to jerky (but much safer) and these are made in the USA.
. These are another really awesome chew that's super tasty and healthy for Chihuahuas. These have limited ingredients of just organic chicken, organic sweet potato, vegetable glycerin (from vegetable oil), vinegar powder, and rosemary (as a natural preservative). As you may have guessed by the name, these fetch fries look like french fries. Their consistency is chewy and flexible, similar to jerky (but much safer) and these are made in the USA. #3. GREENIES Teenie Natural Dental Dog Treats
. As mentioned earlier, edible chews include dental treats and since it's super-important to keep a Chihuahua's teeth clean and in good shape, this is one type of treat you want to give to your little guy or gal daily. Greenies is our top choice (and what makes it one of the most popular brands) because these are approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) and there's lots of options within the product line.
. As mentioned earlier, edible chews include dental treats and since it's super-important to keep a Chihuahua's teeth clean and in good shape, this is one type of treat you want to give to your little guy or gal daily. Greenies is our top choice (and what makes it one of the most popular brands) because these are approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) and there's lots of options within the product line.In regard to sizing, the 'teenie' is made for dogs 5 to 15 lbs. There are grain-free recipes as well as weight management, 'fresh' which offers an extra bonus of immediate fresh breath, and chews specifically for senior dogs. As with any dental treat, you should supervise your Chi as they chew on these and take away any small pieces that may break off.
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