What are soft dog treats?
Treats that need no real chewing power to get through. Some are naturally soft, like the training treats and the pates, and some are puffed, which means air has been worked into them so they crunch down easily. Both suit a mouth that cannot manage a hard chew.
Does soft mean low fat?
No, and this is the one worth knowing. Puffed chews feel light in the hand, which is why the whole trade sells them as lean, but puffing adds air rather than removing fat. Our puffed pig snouts are 22.3% fat and the puffed chicken feet are 34.2%. If you need soft and lean together, look at the beef biltong at 4.3% or the bladder twist at 3%.
Which soft treats suit a very small dog?
The training treats, because they are already bite sized and you can break them smaller still. Sweet potato slices work well too. A puffed snout is soft but it is not small, so a tiny dog is better off with something they can finish.
Are soft treats better for training?
Much better, and for one specific reason. A training treat has to be swallowed in a second so the dog can carry on working. If they have to stop and chew, the moment has gone and so has their attention. Anything on this page that breaks into pea-sized pieces will do the job.
My dog bolts food rather than chewing. Are these alright?
They need more watching, not less, which surprises people. A soft chew goes down faster, so the point where it is small enough to swallow whole arrives sooner. Take it away earlier than you would a hard one.
Do soft treats still count towards their daily food?
Every bit as much, and more easily than you would think. The easier a treat is to eat, the more of them tend to go in over a day. Treats sit best at around a tenth of what your dog eats, and our dog treat calculator works that allowance out for their weight.
