Our furry friends come in all shapes and sizes, which means how we treat them will differ down to every last pup.
Where smaller dogs will need petite treats that are manageable in their mouths, larger dogs need chunkier options that will satisfy their big appetites. And then, there’s everything in between.
It can be confusing, right? Luckily, we’ve been doing this a long time.
Below, we’ve put together advice from our Pointer experts who’ve been making delicious dog treats since the 1950s. This is how to treat your dog depending on their size.
Factors To Consider
It’s actually not as easy as giving a big dog a big treat. There’s a lot of factors to consider when picking what to indulge your pooch in.
Weight – some dogs carry more weight than others, if your vet has advised you on how many calories your pet should be consuming, this should be factored into what you’re treating them. Just because a dog is smaller, doesn’t always mean that they should have a treat with less calories than a medium sized dog, if that dog is overweight. We’d always recommend checking with your vet if you’re unsure on your pet’s diet.
Activity levels – how active your dog is, will come down to both their breed and their characteristics. The PSDA have a great guide which outlines how much exercise each type of dog should need. How much they burn calories will depend on how much you can treat them.
Training – if you are training your pooch, then treats will naturally be a part of their diet. You don’t want to overfeed, though, so here you may which to consider smaller, bite sized treats instead of bigger options. We know how greedy our four legged friends can be if given the chance!
Treats For Small Dogs
Small dogs can include Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, Bichon Frisés, Dachshunds, and more.
As a rule, smaller breeds will be thankful for smaller treats. Not only because their mouths are littler, but their bellies too! We’ve put together a whole guide on the best treats for small dogs, but some of our Pointer favourites include:
Pointer Grain-Free Mini Dogs – small, bitesize (and eerily realistic!) meaty sausages that are perfect for miniature pups. They can be easily broken down into smaller pieces too for controlled treating.
Pointer Puppy Love – for dogs aged 12 weeks and over, these tiny, tasty treats have added calcium for healthy treats and bones. Perfect for training too!
Pointer Assorted Mini Rolls – these crunchy rolls are ideal as a snack or treat for smaller dogs. Made with wheatmeal and added calcium, they too are perfect for little teeth.
Treats For Medium Dogs
Medium dogs are typically Border Collies, Whippets, Australian Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Springer Spaniels, and more.
As the medium dog range is so vast, you’ll want to consider the earlier factors we mentioned when deciding what to treat them – for example Border Collies are renowned for their non-stop, active lifestyles. As a rule, though, some of our favourite Pointer medium dog treats include:
Duck & Orange Flavoured Mini Rolls – ideal for indulging on the go for active dogs, these crunchy rolls contain Duck Meal, which is a great source of protein, but easily digestible too.
Grain-Free Sticks With Lamb – these long lasting chews are good for enrichment, making them perfect for medium sized dogs. As well as promoting good dental health, our Grain-Free Sticks are also rich in vitamins and minerals to support the immune system, gut health and skin and coat.
Chicken-Flavoured Gravy Bones – one of our much-loved classics, these bones are big enough to satisfy a medium dog, yet small enough to be used in training and to be taken out on walks.
Treats For Large And Extra Large Dogs
Large dogs include the likes of Boxers, Borzois, Golden Retrievers, Dalmatians, and Pointers(!), with Extra Large dog breeds being Great Danes, Irish Wolfounds, and St. Bernards to name a few.
Big dogs mostly need big treats – but always consult your vet and consider your pooch’s lifestyle first. Some of our most popular treats for large dogs include:
Peanut Butter Paws – deliciously crunchy, these treats are easily breakable into smaller pieces for training but can be demolished whole by bigger breeds.
Large Assorted Bones – one of our treats that have stood the test of time, our Large Bones are particularly popular amongst bigger breads. They’re not only tasty but enriched with vitamins and minerals too, which can keep active dogs feeling their best.
Big Bite Beed Biscuit – as iconic as they sound, our big bite biscuits are packed with flavour and the perfect snack for a large or extra large dog to sink its teeth into. A firm-favourite amongst our furry friends in the UK, you can buy our big bite biscuits in multi packs online or in our stockists across the country.
We’d love to hear what your favourite Pointer treats are! Share your pictures with us on Instagram or Facebook. For more insights into pet care, visit our blog.
It’s important to note that you should check with your vet before feeding your pooch anything that they’re not familiar with. Dogs with special dietary needs, such as diabetes, should refrain from eating anything outside of what has been recommended to you by a professional.
