What age can my puppy start having treats and chew bones safely?

I would recommend giving her only dog specific treats, no bones (cooked or uncooked), or rawhides. There's a wide variety of dog treats available, but I personally like dental treats, such as Greenies or Denta Chews. Do not give her any human foods, as many are toxic to dogs. I will link a website that lists human foods she can never have: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/

There isn’t necessarily a minimum age for soft dental chews like Greenies. Some dogs can easily bite off large pieces of Greenies that could cause an obstruction, so you should monitor closely while he’s chewing. They also tend to have quite a few calories so it is not ideal to offer one too frequently.

Thank you for submitting your question and congratulations on your first dog! Treats should not comprise more than 10% of the diet. They should be given in small amounts. If you are giving Milk Bones, by the tiny size and only give several a day. Most dogs in this country are overweight. Being strict with his diet from the start with help to prevent this from occurring with him. As far as the best chew, it is based on the individual dog. The chew needs to be something he enjoys, but more importantly something he cannot break pieces off and swallow. This can become a surgery to remove. I hope this information helps!

Hello, and thanks for your question. You can start both of these things anytime! 6 weeks of age is an ok time to start treats, and give a bath if needed. Just make sure the treats are used for training purposes only, and most of his nutrition is gained from a high quality puppy food. Hope this helps.

Zeus can have various types of chews at his age, but you should make sure they are only an occasional treat and always supervise him when he is eating one. If he is biting off large pieces you should take it away - things like this can become lodged in the esophagus.

At 6 weeks of age, your puppy should be eating dog food. You could mix it with a little bit of water or puppy milk replacer to make it softer, if needed. Any type of dog treat would also be appropriate. You could look for a softer treat, like Lean Treats, as they would be easy to eat.

I personally never recommend giving dogs bones. They too often break teeth, and can and do lead to obstructions in the GI tract. Now there are rubber bones that Stormy can chew on, and you can give her one designed specifically for puppies. They are a bit softer and will help her when she starts teething in a couple of months. The Kong brand has a great range of puppy rubber bones, and I would get her one of those from a pet store. Just make sure to watch her when she chews on it to make sure she doesn't bite off and swallow any parts. Best of luck!