So grain is bad for dogs, right?

Question

And that includes wheat, right?

Well, I've been browsing dog treat recipes online because pre-made treats are expensive and chock full of preservatives and additives. But ALL the recipes include some sort of flour. I'm guessing that's because there's no other way to hold the treats together. 

So is just a little bit of flour fine and dandy? Or should I be looking somewhere else for a dog treat? I've just switched my dogs to a grain-free food (Taste of the Wild) and I really want them to be healthy - they've been rather sluggish lately. 

But I also desperately need training aids, as I just adopted a senior English Mastiff who is NOT leash-trained.

Advice, anyone?

These are the treat recipes I was planning on using; other than the flour, they look really healthy.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Diabetic-Dog-Treats/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-and-Pumpkin-Dog-Treats/Detail.aspx

***** · Accepted Answer

I use plain meats and cheeses cut into small bits and freeze dried liver and beef lung (available fairly inexpensively usually) as training treats (I have one dog allergic to every grain we tried except millet, so my house is 100% grain free as far as the dogs are concerned).  If your dog is not allergic or intolerant of grains, they are merely useless and the hallmark of a poor quality food.  If your dog doesn't have a problem with grains, a little flour in some treats won't hurt him any.

Anonymous · Answer

Training aids have to be what the dog likes.

It's a little messier, but mozzarella cheese sticks make a good training treat for dogs that like cheese.

If you've ever watched a dog show, most of the handlers are using bits of baked liver as treats:  chop beef liver into bite-size bits, spread out on parchment paper (see the baking aisle of your grocery) on a cookie sheet, and bake at 275F till its dry and crunchy.  You might have to experiment.

I once had a dog who would do anything for dried apricots, so that's what I used.  What's your mastiff's favorite food?

Poodles NOT Doodles! · Answer

Having treats with wheat in them is not going to harm your dog.

The thing with grain in dog food is that in low quality foods it is used as a filler in place of higher quality meats/proteins. So it's better to avoid foods that have a high amount of grain. However, unfortunetely because treats aren't even really 'good' for your dog in the first place most of them have quite a high amount of grain and/or sugar.

If you're very concerned about ingredients in treats I've found one of the best treats to use is just individual dog kibble from his regular food.

Or you could look into getting some cut up pieces of chicken/lamb/beef, etc.

Joh · Answer

Not necessarily bad for most dogs -  just not necessary or even digestible.

I use dehydrated meats and organs as training treats.  You can make your own but they are available at any pet store and most groceries.  Just chop them into tiny cubes so the dog isn't getting too much food.

? · Answer

1

Amerz &amp; The Labradork · Answer

I got this cookbook from a friend and it has a lot of fun treat recipes. In small amounts, I am sure that some grains are just fine, unless your dog has an allergy to them. 

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Dog-Bakery-Cookbook-All-Natural/dp/0836269195

Anonymous · Answer

try dehydrating chicken or beef livers.  you set the oven at a low temp and cook, or "bake" them for a while (usually between 2-4 hours, that's how long it takes for me).
livers are cheap.  you know what your dog is eating.
or you can try raw chicken hearts/gizzards

Crazy4Dogs · Answer

A little flour will not be harmful to your dog.  Grains are fine as long as you pick ones that are easily digestible-such as rice.

So grain is bad for dogs, right?

8 Answers