In this blog, I explore the different natural puppy treats and sustainable, eco-friendly toys that are available for young puppies under the age of 4 months old.
Welcoming a new puppy into your life is such an exciting time. The endless cuddles, the hours of fun; nurturing and developing that special bond that will last a lifetime.
But, with a wealth of conflicting information about training techniques, and an abundance of treats and toys to choose from, it can also seem a little daunting and overwhelming. Particularly if you’re a first-time puppy parent.
If you look on the back of a lot of dog treat packaging, you will discover that many treats are unsuitable for dogs under 4 months old.
As many of you may know, we’ve just welcomed little Winnie into our family, and obviously, like any responsible parent, I’m keen to give her the very best start in life.
With natural treats and sustainable, eco-friendly toys high on my list of priorities, I went in search of some reputable brands that sell products and accessories suitable for young puppies.
When it comes to raising a puppy, organisation and preparation are key. But, what treats and toys are suitable for your new little bundle?
Having treats and chews that you can use in different situations will help to make the training game a dream!
High value treats for recall and training
You want to be teaching your puppy recall from an early age. A young puppy will listen and respond much better than when they reach adolescence. Therefore, the more time you can invest in training when they’re young, the better.
I’ve written a blog all about teaching reliable recall which you can read here, but the focus needs to be on high-value treats.
The tastier the morsel, the more likely your dog is to want to engage with you and return when called.
Here are some of my top recommendations:
Anco Training Treats
These bite-sized treats are the perfect snack to take out and about with you. Small in size and tantalising tasty they are available in a range of flavours.
Available from Bevy’s Fur Babies
Soopa Healthy Bites
I love this range of vegan dog treats and they provide a great alternative to all the meaty offerings out there.
What I particularly love about them is they are super soft and therefore easy the break with your fingers. As you will soon discover, you will get through a LOT of treats during a training session, so being able to make them smaller can be an advantage to the purse strings!
Available from Scruffy Little Terrier
Innocent Hound Puppy Training Treats
Once your puppy has got a taste of these, there is no going back! And, the best news is they are safe to feed from 8 weeks old, so make an excellent training treat from an early age.
Again, like the Soopa treats they are mailable, so can be easily broken into smaller pieces. They come in a range of mouth-watering flavours and are guaranteed to get your puppy drooling in seconds!
Available from Distinctive Pets
Bonus – Positive Reward Soft Dog Treat Dispenser
The Bonus is a nifty little gadget that you fill with a squeezable dog treat and it attaches to your belt or bag via an extendable drawstring carabiner.
Doggy Peanut butter available from Green Pawprints, Primula Cheese, Natural yogurt, or Arden Grange Liver paste are all great suggestions to fill the dispenser with.
Your puppy only needs the smallest taste of its favourite flavour to retain its focus, and as you can see from the photo, Winnie found it irresistible! Liver paste is her all-time favourite!
Available from Green Pawprints
Long-lasting chews for teething
Just like babies, your puppy will be teething from an early age.
Whilst your puppy may be drawn to wicker baskets, bits of bark, or stones in the garden, giving them a safer alternative to ensure their safety is essential.
Yak Snacks
Yak chews are a natural dog chew made from Himalayan Yak’s milk and provide hours of entertainment and gnawing! I swear when Gertie was a puppy these saved us a fortune in chewed furniture and shoes!
Yak Snacks are available from Collar Club
Olive Wood Chew
I’d not discovered these before getting Winnie, but they are a revelation! Infused with natural olive oil, there are great for soothing teething gums, and the olive oil helps to keep the puppy’s coat in good condition.
Winnie tends to have hers on car journeys when she can often be a little restless.
Available from Green Pawprints
Rabbit’s Ears
Both the Yak chews and Olive Wood Chews are long-lasting. But, if you’re after something to keep your puppy amused for an hour or so, rabbit’s ears provide a great alternative and claim to contain anti-worming properties.
Be warned, they are not the most pleasant aroma, but your puppy will love them!
Soopa Puppy Dental Sticks
These are great for young puppies as they help to alleviate the pain and soreness associated with teething. Available in a range of vegetable and fruit-based flavours, these healthy vegan dental sticks will keep your puppy looking and feeling their best.
Available from Scruffy Little Terrier
Treats for Treats Sake
Sometimes you will just want to treat your puppy, just because!
Keep Calm and Carrot On!
I love the names Jo from Collar Club dreams up for her treats! These tasty carrot cubes are a great vegan-friendly option. Satisfyingly crunchy, Winnie is a big fan of this new range of natural treats.
Paws up! If you’re looking for a regular treat for your new canine companion, Collar Club does a fabulous subscription box packed full of natural treats and sustainable, eco-friendly toys.
You can save 30% on your first box using code CCDOTTY30
JR Pet Products
JR Pet is one of my favourite brands for treats. Their Meaty Coins and Pure Meat Sticks never hang around long in our house! Always a sure sign that they are a big hit!
They can be fed as a chew or can be broken into smaller pieces for a high-value training treat. They are suitable for puppies 4 weeks and over making them a very versatile option.
Bevy’s Fur Babies stock a wide range of treats to buy individually, or they offer a fabulous variety of gift boxes too.
You can save 20% on your purchase at Bevy’s using code DOTTY4PAWS
Boredom busting puppy treats
Young puppies are limited in the amount of daily exercise they should have to protect their developing joints. However, this does not stop them, in between naps, from having boundless energy!
Having some boredom busters on hand is always good. You will also find they help your puppy to settle and promote a sense of calm.
JR Pet Pate and Lickimats
I’m a huge fan of Lickimats (for adult dogs too). There are many different toppings you can try, but Winnie and Gertie are rather partial to JR Pet pate. It is available in a range of flavours and can be sliced, diced, or grated to provide a tasty snack.
Available from Bevy’s Fur Babies
One of my other favourite boredom-busting toys is the Kong, and Finer By Nature pate cut into small cubes makes a great filling.
Available from Luxury Dog Hampers
For more enrichment ideas, check out 7 Best Boredom Busters and Dog Enrichment Games for a Happy Healthy Pup
Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Puppy Toys
Just like children, puppies learn a lot through play. Your puppy will need a variety of toys that will help them to explore the world, build relationships and help with teething.
It’s important to provide your puppy with a range of tactile textures when it comes to toys. Try and include some plush toys, as well as more robust, harder toys, and be sure to expose them to different shapes and colours. After all, variety is the spice of life!
Recycled Tennis Ball Tug Toy
Playing with tug toys will help grow your bond with your puppy, and if you have another dog in the household, it’s a great way to teach interactive play.
I love these tug toys from Fur Babies, as they are made using recycled tennis balls. Over the years, I’ve learned that tennis balls made specifically for dogs can be pretty flimsy. Stick with traditional tennis balls and you can’t go far wrong.
(One word of warning though, try to avoid the overuse of tennis balls, as the fibres can wear down the enamel on your dog’s teeth over time – I learned this the hard with Pops, who was a tennis ball addict!)
Available from Fur Babies (get 2 tuggies for £12.99 with code TOYS24A)
Milo the Monkey Dog Toy
These monkey toys are fabulous! Not only do they double as a tug toy, but the hard-wearing leather and jute cotton rope combination is great for teething puppies.
Even the stuffing of this toy is eco-friendly as it’s filled with coconut fibres.
Available in a range of colours from Green Pawprints
Smug Mutts Knot Pull Toy
I have to be honest, I’ve seen Smug Mutt toys advertised in so many places, and to the human eye, they appear pretty uninspiring! However, I have to eat my words because both Winnie and Gertie absolutely LOVE their knot pull.
100% natural, the knot pull is made from splinter-less wood and earthy-smelling hemp rope, which for some reason drives my two wild!
They are a great toy for teething puppies, but also ideal for interactive play.
Available from Bevy’s Fur Babies
Puppy Hamper from Luxury Dog Hampers
If you’re after the ultimate gift of indulgence for your new furry friend, these gorgeous Fortnum and Mason-esque puppy hampers are just the ticket.
Packed with mouthwatering natural treats, a plush toy, and even the top-selling puppy guide, written by Steve Mann, this really is a gift to really bark about.
The book provides clear, easy-to-follow steps about every aspect of puppyhood. Even if you’re a seasoned dog owner, it contains a wealth of information that will make raising your puppy Easy, Peasy, Squeezy!
All the treats are natural and have been carefully selected to ensure they are suitable for your new addition.
If you want to welcome your puppy in style or give a gift to a new puppy parent, these luxury gift hampers are guaranteed to set little tails wagging.
Luxury Dog Hampers don’t just sell hampers for puppies, they also do amazing hampers for the older dog too.
For regular readers of my blog, you may remember Poppy was sent a Christmas hamper a few years ago. Luxury Dog Hampers – The Gift of Indulgence this Christmas
I still use the lovely Fortnum and Mason style hamper to this day to store all Gertie’s bandanas. It really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Available from luxury Dog Hampers
I hope you’ve found our blog super helpful. If you have a favourite eco-friendly puppy toy or natural treat, please let us know in the comments.
After all, you can never have too many treatos!
Woofs and Wags
Kate, Gertie and Winnie
xox
