Knowing the difference between dog treat types can make choosing easier. A small training reward has a very different job from a chew intended to occupy a dog for longer.

The type or shape of a treat doesn’t guarantee that it will suit every dog. Always check its ingredients, physical size, texture and individual product information before feeding.

Small rewards | Sticks and strips | Natural animal parts | Tougher chews | Boxes and hampers | How to compare

What Does “Treat Type” Mean?

Treat type describes the product’s format and the way it is normally offered. It may refer to:

• its shape, such as a stick, strip, cube, braid or roll;
• the animal part used, such as an ear, foot, skin or trachea;
• its purpose, such as training, rewarding or chewing;
• how it is sold, such as an individual treat, taster pack, box or hamper.

Two treats in the same category can still differ greatly in size, thickness, hardness, ingredients and how long an individual dog takes to eat them.

Small Training Treats and Rewards

Smaller treats are often chosen for training, recall practice and frequent rewards because they can be given quickly.

Look for pieces that:

• are an appropriate size for the dog;
• can be eaten without interrupting training for too long;
• can be divided into smaller portions where appropriate;
• fit within the dog’s normal daily food and treat allowance.

A small treat isn’t automatically low in calories. Check the product information and consider how many rewards will be given during the day.

Sticks, Sausages, Strips and Cubes

Crafted sticks, sausages, strips and cubes may contain several ingredients. Check the composition, analytical constituents and additives on each product.

Read the Dog Treat Ingredients & Labels Guide

Natural Ears, Feet, Skins and Other Animal Parts

At Fido’s, every item in our natural range is one part of an animal with nothing else added. This makes the ingredient easy to identify, but the treats still vary in physical size, thickness, texture and suitability.

Animal ears

Ears can differ greatly depending on the animal, individual piece and preparation. Some are thinner and lighter, while others are larger, denser or covered with fur.

Choose the actual piece according to the dog’s size and chewing behaviour. Remove it if it becomes a small end section that could be swallowed whole.

Feet

Natural feet may include chicken, duck, turkey or rabbit feet. Different types vary in size and structure.

Supervise closely and don’t assume that every foot-shaped treat is suitable for every dog simply because it belongs to the same category.

Skins

Dried skins may be sold as strips, rolls, plates or irregular natural pieces. Their density and thickness can affect how a dog handles them.

A thin strip may be eaten quickly by one dog, while a thicker piece may take another dog longer. Duration can’t be guaranteed from the product type alone.

Trachea

Trachea may be sold whole, cut into sections or filled. A plain single-ingredient trachea is different from a filled version containing additional ingredients.

Check the size, preparation and complete product description before choosing.

Tails, snouts, necks and other natural pieces

These descriptions identify the animal part, but pieces can still differ naturally in shape, weight, thickness and texture.

Check the actual item and supervise the dog rather than relying only on an average product photograph.

Browse Fido’s natural dog treats

Braids, Rolls and Wrapped Chews

Braided and rolled products are formed into a particular shape. They may be made from one ingredient or several layers and ingredients.

Check:

• what the braid or roll is made from;
• whether anything has been added, filled or wrapped around it;
• its width, length and density;
• whether the dog pulls off and swallows large sections;
• how it changes as it is chewed.

The word “roll” doesn’t tell you how hard the item is or how long it will last.

Tougher and Longer-Lasting Chews

Tougher choices may include dense animal chews, horns, antlers, yak-style chews, hooves and other products intended for extended chewing.

The toughest option isn’t automatically the best or safest option. Consider:

• the dog’s chewing force;
• the hardness of the item;
• the condition of the dog’s teeth and gums;
• whether pieces can crack, splinter or break away;
• whether the remaining section could be swallowed;
• whether the item is edible or intended mainly as a chew object.

Very hard chews can damage teeth, particularly where a dog bites down forcefully rather than gnawing steadily.

Read the Tough Chews Guide

Read the Dog Treat & Chew Safety Guide

Filled and Coated Treats

A hoof, trachea, roll or other chew may be sold plain or with a filling or coating. Once another ingredient is added, the complete recipe needs checking.

Don’t assume that a filled product has the same composition as its unfilled version. Check:

• the filling or coating ingredients;
• analytical constituents;
• declared additives;
• feeding directions;
• storage instructions.

Dental-Style Treats

Products described using words such as dental, teeth or gums can differ greatly in ingredients, shape, texture and supporting evidence.

Read the exact product information rather than assuming that every dental-style treat works in the same way.

Chewing a treat isn’t a replacement for regular dental checks or veterinary treatment. Speak to a vet if a dog has bad breath, bleeding gums, broken teeth, mouth pain or difficulty eating.

Soft and Gentler Treat Options

Some dogs may find smaller, softer or more easily divided treats simpler to manage. This can include puppies learning to chew, senior dogs or dogs with fewer teeth.

Soft doesn’t mean suitable for every puppy, senior dog or dental condition. Check the ingredients, piece size and individual dog, and seek veterinary advice where there is mouth pain or known dental disease.

Taster Packs, Treat Boxes and Hampers

Taster packs

A taster pack provides several smaller choices and can help owners learn which formats or proteins their dog prefers.

Each item should still be checked separately before feeding.

Try Me and mixed boxes

A mixed box can offer variety without choosing every product individually. Check the listed contents, possible substitutions, ingredients and suitability information.

Puppy and senior packs

These packs bring together choices selected with a life stage in mind. They aren’t a guarantee that every included item will suit every puppy or older dog.

Fido’s Puppy Starter Letterbox Pack and Senior Letterbox Pack are both priced at £20.

Tough chew boxes

Tough chew boxes group together denser or longer-lasting options. The contents must still be matched to the dog’s size, teeth, chewing style and experience.

Dog treat hampers

Hampers can be useful as gifts, birthday treats or mixed selections. Read the individual hamper listing for its exact contents and any size or suitability guidance.

Browse dog treat hampers

How to Compare Different Treat Types

Common Choosing Mistakes

• Assuming the hardest chew is best for a powerful chewer.
• Choosing only by the dog’s breed rather than the individual dog.
• Assuming a small treat is automatically low in calories.
• Believing every product with the same shape has the same ingredients.
• Using the product photograph as an exact size guide for a natural item.
• Giving a chew without supervision.
• Allowing a dog to continue once the remaining piece is small or damaged.

Choosing Treats at Fido’s

Fido’s stocks natural animal-part treats, crafted products, bagged and packed snacks, training rewards, tougher chews, taster packs, letterbox packs, boxes and hampers.

Visit our Normanton High Street shop and tell us:

• your dog’s age and size;
• how strongly or quickly they chew;
• whether they gulp or swallow pieces;
• which treat types they have tried before;
• which ingredients you need to avoid;
• whether you want a reward, snack, gift or something to chew.

We can help compare the available choices, but we can’t diagnose a health condition or confirm that a general treat is medically suitable.

Browse all dog treats at Fido’s

Explore Fido’s Information Hub