There's no single "favorite," but many dogs love sweet, crunchy, or refreshing fruits like blueberries, apples, and watermelon, while others go wild for bananas, strawberries, or mangoes, but always remove pits, seeds, and rinds, as some (like apple seeds, cherry pits) are toxic, and fruits should be given in moderation due to sugar content.
Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are good examples, feed according to your dog's weight, but usually about 2 square inch pieces for a treat. Bananas are also a good treat, 2 slices go a long way for a treat. Berries are good too. Like the green tops of strawberries, a couple of raspberries, or a few blueberries.
Dogs can eat raw bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, and zucchini. They can also eat pumpkin, squash, and sweet potatoes, but those veggies should be thoroughly cooked before feeding them to your dog.
Dogs should not eat grapes, raisins, currants (can cause kidney failure), avocados (persin toxin), cherries, plums, peaches, apricots (pits/seeds contain cyanide & are choking hazards), or citrus fruits like lemons/limes (cause stomach upset). Also avoid the green parts of tomatoes and wild berries, and be cautious with seeds/pits from many fruits due to cyanide and obstruction risks.
Dogs are natural carnivores, and their ancestral diet was rich in animal proteins. Flavors like beef, chicken, and pork are particularly enticing to them. The savory and umami taste of meat triggers a pleasurable response in dogs, making meat-flavored treats a surefire hit.
Chicken, beef, turkey, venison – the list goes on. They all contain proteins and vitamins, plus your pup will go head over paws for their flavours too. If you're giving a bit of meat as a treat, always offer it cooked, but avoid adding condiments or seasoning.
An hour for a dog feels much longer than an hour for a human because dogs perceive time more slowly due to their faster metabolism and heightened awareness of routines, so a 10-minute wait can feel like 70 minutes to them, and your hour-long absence feels like an eternity, though they don't grasp clock time but rather the intervals between events like meals, walks, and your return.
Although blueberries are a healthy treat, their small size could present a choking hazard for some dogs. Eating too many could also result in digestive upset. Cavities in dogs are rare but may form if they eat too much sugar. Blueberries may be healthy, but they also contain sugar, so feed in moderation.
The 90/10 rule for dogs means that 90% of their daily calories should come from a complete and balanced dog food, while only 10% should come from treats, chews, and table scraps, preventing weight gain and ensuring proper nutrition. This guideline helps owners manage treat portions, preventing unbalanced diets and health issues like obesity, joint problems, and diabetes, as treats can be surprisingly high in calories, even healthy ones.
The seeds contain cyanide.
Apple seeds have trace amounts of cyanide, which can be toxic in large quantities. Your dog would have to eat a lot of seeds to have a problem—but it's still better to be safe and remove the seeds before giving any apple slices to your dog.
The 90/10 rule for dogs means 90% of their daily calories should come from a complete, balanced dog food, while only 10% should come from treats, training rewards, and any extra human foods or toppers, preventing nutritional imbalances and obesity. This guideline ensures essential vitamins and minerals are met through their main diet, keeping treats as occasional indulgences rather than dietary staples.
Yes, dogs can eat plain, cooked scrambled eggs as a healthy, protein-rich treat, but they should be prepared without salt, butter, oil, or seasonings like onions and garlic, and given in moderation as an occasional addition to their balanced diet. Cooking the eggs (scrambled, boiled, or poached) is crucial to eliminate salmonella risks and prevent biotin deficiency associated with raw eggs, according to PetMD, Purina and the American Kennel Club (AKC).
The healthiest dog food depends on your dog's specific needs, but top veterinarian-recommended brands known for science-backed nutrition and meeting AAFCO standards include Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina Pro Plan, offering options for life stages and health conditions. For sensitive dogs or allergies, limited ingredient diets (LID) from brands like Prime100 (single protein, human-grade) or raw/air-dried diets from Eureka (high meat, organs) are excellent choices, focusing on whole, digestible ingredients for better gut and skin health, but always consult your vet first.
Blueberries come packed with antioxidants, which help reduce the impact of stress on your dog's body. Try feeding your fur pal a handful of blueberries as a treat to promote wellness and calm.
Cherries: The pits, stems, and leaves in cherries contain cyanide, which is poisonous and potentially fatal if consumed in high enough quantities. Cherry pits may also become stuck in a dog's intestinal system and cause obstructions. Grapes: Grapes are highly toxic to dogs and can cause serious damage to kidneys.
Watermelon. Watermelon is 92% water, making it a great treat to help keep your pet hydrated. It is also low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is high in potassium and vitamins A, B6, and C. To ensure it's safe for your pup, remove the seeds and rind and only share the fleshy part of the fruit.
The hardest "commandment" (command) to teach a dog is often considered Recall ("Come"), due to powerful natural instincts to explore or play, followed by impulse control commands like "Leave It/Drop It", and complex obedience actions like the "Finish" (positioning at the handler's side) or "Heel", requiring intense focus and self-control, especially with distractions like other dogs or interesting sights/smells.
A red flag dog behavior signals deep fear, stress, or potential aggression, going beyond normal misbehavior, and includes intense growling/snapping without cause, sudden aggression in a calm dog, persistent hiding, resource guarding (food aggression), freezing, destructive behavior linked to separation anxiety, or signs of extreme anxiety like trembling, lip-licking, and tail-tucking, indicating underlying problems needing professional intervention.
The length of time a dog can be left alone depends on the individual dog but we advise that they are left for no longer than four hours so they have opportunities to exercise, go to the toilet, and spend time with people.
There's no single "number one" food, but chocolate, grapes/raisins, and foods containing the artificial sweetener xylitol are among the most dangerous and common toxic items, causing issues from vomiting and seizures to kidney failure or death; other major threats include onions/garlic, alcohol, and fatty/cooked bones that can splinter. Always contact your vet immediately if your dog eats anything suspicious.
Dogs should not eat holly berries, mistletoe berries, elderberries, juniper berries, gooseberries, pokeweed berries, nightshade berries, or yew berries, as these contain toxins (like saponins or hydrocyanic acid) that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or more severe illness; also avoid cherry pits and stems due to cyanide. While many common berries (blueberries, raspberries) are safe in moderation, always check with your vet and steer clear of wild or unknown berries, especially those growing in hedgerows.
The best vegetables for dogs are nutrient-rich, low-calorie options like carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and spinach, providing vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, but should be served cooked (for starchy ones) or raw (carrots, green beans) in moderation as treats. Always avoid toxic veggies like onions, garlic, and grapes, and remember treats shouldn't exceed 10% of their diet.
How do they do this? It's biological. All animals have circadian rhythms - physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle, responding to light and darkness in the environment. They may also be affected by factors like temperature and social cues.
Given that dogs can remember us and read the cues, then yes, they most likely know when we are going away, although, not for how long.
Fortunately for us, dogs do not understand they are being put to sleep. They may behave differently at this time generally because they feed off the emotions of their closest humans, who are understandably destraught. Plus they also getting all of this extra attention so they probably wonder what is going on!