Estimations have it that half of American dog owners have a small dog in their household. While they’re cute, they can sometimes be little monsters. But that’s the fun of it all. They’re our little monsters, after all.
Sometimes, you need a way to calm a little dog down. Other times, you want to simply give them a treat. But what do you give them?
If you’re in the market for gifts for dogs, here’s what you should consider for smaller dog breeds.
What Works and What You Should Avoid
First and foremost, the biggest problem with small dogs is that choking hazards are much more of a risk. Due to their small mouths and smaller tracheas, it’s far easier for them to choke on an object than a larger breed.
The best treats for small dogs, for that reason, are treats that don’t pose a choking hazard. The general rule of thumb is that you should not give a dog a treat that is smaller than their snout and bigger than the length of their head.
Why is that? If something is smaller than their mouth, the likelihood of them trying to swallow it all at once is heightened. For instance, you wouldn’t want to give a larger dog a baby carrot as they might just try and swallow it whole.
You should try and do the same with a smaller dog. Give them treats that are between that range of the length of their snout and the length of their head.
You should remember that any dog chews you give to your dog should always be given with proper monitoring, too. There is always a choking hazard when a dog is eating a larger treat. Rather than giving it to them and walking into another room, whether to work or listen to music, you should give it to them at a time where you can properly keep an eye on them.
