Today I’m sharing some grain free dog treats for dogs. If you read my blog regularly, you’ll know I’ve got two dogs – one Boxer (Monty) and one Boxer mix (Minnie). Minnie has lots of allergies and costs a fortune in Vet fees. Alongside that, she has a grain free diet. So with that in mind, I’m always on the look out for new grain free treat ideas for dogs.

Grain Free Dog Treats

A grain free diet is a great way to help stop dogs itching so much. One of the most common causes for itchiness in dogs is allergies, and the main triggers in dogs are wheat, grass and chicken.

We realised Minnie had allergies when she was around 6 months old. She’d had 3 separate ear infections by then, so we asked the vet why it kept happening. One allergy test later showed she had wheat, grass, chicken and fish allergies. Since then, I’ve been on the look out for grain free treat ideas for dogs. 

Grain Free Traditional Dog Treats

I’ve had dogs all my life, and was shocked just how many of them were off limits for Minnie once we knew about her allergies. She can’t have things like Bonio, Dentasticks, Marrow Bones etc. She can’t even have most mainstream dry dog foods – I have to make sure she has a hypoallergenic food.

A great way to discover new grain free treats for dogs is by subscribing to a treat box from Fetch Club Shop. They only include natural treats and you can let them know of any allergies your dog has, and they’ll offer a substitute treat whenever required. Minnie is a big fan of things like pigs ears, deer antlers and meat strips.

Training Treats for Dogs

If you’re looking for a grain-free training treat to give your dog, I’d recommend cutting up fresh meat, and giving them that. It’s a high value treat, so they’ll usually be on their best behaviour for such a reward. I used small chunks of gluten free sausages to train both Monty and Minnie. They loved the occasional cheese cube as well, and a tube of primula cheese proved really helpful when we were working on recall.

Fruity Treats for Dogs

If you like to give your dog a lot of small treats, you can include many fruits into the mix. There are plenty of dog friendly fruit options out there. The most popular choices include blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. These soft fruits are easy to chew, and suitable for dogs.

Cranberries are becoming increasingly popular in the United Kingdom because of the many secondary plant compounds and antioxidants. They are also dog friendly. Minnie isn’t a fan though. Apple, Melon, Bananas and Pineapple are also suitable for dogs – in moderation.

Grain Free Treats for Dogs to Avoid

Despite so many fruits being dog friendly, there are also some which should be avoided. Grapes and sultanas are both highly toxic for dogs. Ingesting as little as 200 grams can lead to acute kidney failure. Sultanas are even more toxic, so never leave your dog unattended around sultanas or grapes, and consult a vet immediately if you think your dog has eaten either.

Nuts are very high in fat and can promote obesity, so are best avoided when looking for grain free treat ideas for dogs. Bitter almonds are also toxic to dogs because they contain amygdalin. This converts to prussic acid during digestion, and is likely to give your dog much more than an upset stomach, so should be avoided.

Watching Your Dog’s Weight

If your dog is on the larger side and needs low fat grain free dog treats, you may want to consider something like a deer antler. This isn’t a cheap treat, but it will last a long time, and keep your dog active, without increasing their calorie intake. Finally, let us know in the comments if you can think of any other grain free treat ideas for dogs.