How To Choose The Best Dog Jerky Treats
When you’re shopping for the best dog jerky treats, you want to make sure that what you buy is safe, delicious, and engaging for your pup. You want to know about every part of the process, from the curing and treatment to the packaging and shipping.
The best dog jerky treats are naturally preserved and packaged without harsh chemical additives or flavors. But there’s more to a good treat than that! Here’s what you should be on the lookout for when you’re shopping for your dog’s jerky treats.
How It’s Made
Your dog is part of the family, and that means you want to give them the best! To start your jerky shopping experience, look for information on how the product is made. The best dog jerky treats will be created naturally. For example, The Dog Bakery air dries our jerky for three days before being baked.
This is what you want: a natural, traditional manufacturing process that eschews industrial-grade preservatives and dyes. In fact, in addition to the many brands that offer this traditional dry-and-preserve method, you can even produce your own jerky at home.
Making Your Own Jerky
If you have the resources and time to spare, then making your own jerky is the best way to guarantee your dog gets high-quality jerky treats. The process is fairly simple, though it takes some time and space.
In order to make your own jerky, slice the meat into thin ¼ inch strips. These should be allowed to dry out. You can use traditional methods or purchase an air dryer to speed up the process.
Afterward, the product should be boiled, baked, smoked, or dehydrated to fully preserve it. If you opt to smoke the meat, make sure the smoker reaches a temperature of at least 160°F! Or you can use an air fryer.
Here are 3 jerky recipes you can make at home.
Country of Origin
In terms of economic and nutritional benefits, the best dog jerky treats are made in America. There are a few reasons for this, but the primary factor for this distinction is that American pet food manufacturers are required to meet strict FDA requirements. This means that their ingredients must be wholesome; no unsafe chemicals or non-food material may be used.
China, the other major producer of pet food and treats, has far less oversight in its pet food manufacturing. While their laws are being updated, they still fail to meet the standards of the FDA.
However, not all dog treats made in the USA are good. Likewise, there are some truly good Chinese brands. Be sure to take all information into account when purchasing treats!
Ingredients
Finally, you’ll want to dig into the “meat and potatoes” of your jerky. What is it made out of? What ingredients are being used? Are any unnatural dyes added to make the product look “right”?
At The Dog Bakery, all of our jerky is made without preservatives or artificial coloring. In fact, some of our jerky products contain additional vitamins and minerals to keep your dog in top form!
However, there are plenty of other amazing treat brands on the market, and your dog loves variety as much as you do! If you’re shopping with other brands, then you’ll want to keep an eye on the labels.
What to Avoid
There are a few ingredients that you should always avoid. These ingredients tend to be either unsafe or unnecessary. In fact, some of these ingredients are used as little more than filler. They may be added to pad out the size or weight of a treat, yet they’ll provide no nutritional value to your pup.
Red flags to watch for include:
- Artificial dyes or coloring
- Brewer’s rice
- Corn syrup
- Excessive salt
- Nitrites and nitrates
- Propylene glycol
- Vegetable oil
- Xylitol and other artificial sweeteners
Always Be Vigilant
No matter what treats you choose to get, even if they’re from our wholesome jerky line, be vigilant! Never feed a large amount of a new treat to your pup. In fact, the best practice is to provide a small amount of the treat and then monitor your dog.
This allows you to watch for any concerning symptoms. The best dog jerky treats shouldn’t cause any problems, but individual tummies and allergies can play into how well a dog will tolerate a treat. In addition to signs of general discomfort, you also want to watch for increased urine output.
As long as you’re careful and pick only the best dog jerky treats, you and your pup will both enjoy years of fun and love together!
