Open a bag of fish skin dog treats and you’ll know about it straight away. So will your dog, probably from the other side of the room. Fish skin is one of those treats that dogs go daft for and humans hold at arm’s length, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Here’s what fish skin treats are, how they compare with the other fishy bits on our shelves in Maylord Orchards, and how to pick the right one for your dog.
What are fish skin dog treats?
They’re exactly what they sound like: the skin of a fish, turned into a treat. Our Fish Skin Flats are made from 100% cod skin. That’s the whole ingredients list. There’s no flour, no binders and nothing else added, which makes them a single-ingredient treat. Our guide to single-ingredient treats explains what that means if you’d like the detail.
As the name suggests, they’re flat pieces rather than rolls or sticks. They’re a crunchy treat with a rough texture, and they’re suitable for dogs of all breeds.
What are they like to chew?
Every treat at the deli has a chew strength: Gentle, Medium, Tough or Extra tough. Fish Skin Flats are Medium.
That puts them in a nice middle spot. They’ve got enough crunch to give your dog something to work at, but they’re not a long, slow gnaw like a hoof or a horn. If your dog finds soft treats gone in a second but isn’t ready for the really tough chews yet, a Medium chew like this is a good one to try. Our guide to choosing the right chew explains each strength in more detail.
Let’s talk about the smell
We won’t pretend otherwise: fish skin treats smell of fish. Quite a lot of fish. Keep the bag sealed, maybe don’t leave one in a warm car, and you might want to wash your hands before your next cup of tea.
The good news is that dogs tend to think the smell is the best bit. If you’ve got a fussy dog who turns their nose up at the usual beef and chicken, something this fishy can get their attention in a way other treats can’t.
How fish skin compares with our other fish treats
Of the fish treats in this post, Fish Skin Flats give your dog the most to chew, but they’re not the only option if your dog loves fish. Here’s how they line up with the others in our fish treats range.
- Fish Skin Flats: 100% cod skin. Medium. Crunchy flat pieces for dogs who like a bit of a chew.
- Gourmet Salmon Pure Sticks: 100% salmon. Gentle. Soft sticks with just one ingredient, and a nice fishy change if your dog usually has beef or chicken.
- Herring Buttons with Pumpkin: Baltic herring and pumpkin. Gentle. Little bite-size buttons in a resealable pack. The herring is fished sustainably from the Baltic Sea and air-dried. They’re handy for training or for keeping in your pocket on a walk.
- Salmon and Chicken Sausages: 40% chicken, 30% salmon, 5% vegetables and beef meal. Gentle. Easy to break into smaller pieces, so they’re good as training rewards.
So if you want a fishy chew, go for the Fish Skin Flats. If you want a quick fishy snack or something for training, the salmon sticks, herring buttons or sausages are softer and quicker to eat. The first two on the list are single-ingredient. The sausages and the herring buttons are made from a few things, and every one is listed on the product page.
Choosing the right size
The size of a treat matters just as much as the chew strength. A few tips:
- Go bigger rather than smaller. A chew should be too big for your dog to swallow whole. For a larger dog, that might mean a whole flat rather than a broken piece.
- Think about how your dog eats. Gulpers who try to swallow things in one go are better with a bigger piece they have to work at. Steady nibblers can manage smaller bits.
- Smaller dogs and older dogs might find the Gentle fish treats easier than a Medium chew. Start with the salmon sticks or herring buttons and see how they get on.
- Not sure? Bring your dog into the deli. We can look at them, look at the treats, and help you pick.
A quick word on safe chewing
Always stay with your dog while they’re enjoying a chew, and take it away once it’s small enough to swallow. Make sure there’s fresh water nearby, and pick a size that’s right for your dog.
Come and have a sniff
Online ordering is paused for now, but every treat in this post is on the shelves at the deli counter at The Atrium, Maylord Orchards, Hereford. Dogs are very welcome inside, so bring yours along and let them have a sniff of the fish shelf. We’ll warn you now, they’ll probably pick the smelliest one.
Plan your visit and come and say hello.