As much as our dogs would love to wolf down (no pun intended) every treat and chew in the house in one go, that’s obviously not something pet-parents can allow. This means that while our dogs eagerly await their next goodies, their treats and chews need to be stored correctly. Proper storage allows you to maintain their quality and freshness, ensuring a healthy, tasty, and safe experience for your dog. This article covers different storage solution options for varying budgets, lifestyles, and products, allowing you to find the treat storage option that best suits you and your beloved pooch.
Why treat storage matters
When it comes to factors like taste, freshness, and nutritional value, proper treat storage is a must. Dog treats and chews can lose their flavour and nutrients when exposed to elements like air, light, or moisture in the same ways that human food can. This can cause your dog’s favourite goodies to go stale and make them less enjoyable from taste to texture and beyond. Your pooch also won’t be able to reap as many benefits from the vitamin and mineral content of their treats, meaning they won’t be as effective at supporting certain areas of your dog’s health.
Additionally, proper storage helps ensure that harmful contamination does not occur. This is crucial, as certain types of contamination could make the treats and chews unsafe for your dog to consume. When treats and chews are left open and not stored in a cool, dry place, they become susceptible to mould, pests, and bacteria. Using proper storage options helps ward off these contaminants while keeping your dog’s favourite treats and chews in perfect condition for their optimal enjoyment and benefit.
Choosing the right containers
Here are some tips and ideas for picking the right containers for your dog’s treats and chews:
- Airtight containers: Simple, airtight containers are the most popular option for proper dog treat storage as they are designed to keep their contents fresh. By blocking out air and moisture, they prevent issues like staleness and contamination while retaining the flavour and nutritional value of treats and chews. Airtight containers can also help improve the shelf life of your dog’s favourite goodies.
- Re-purposing household items: Common household items, such as jars, food containers, and canisters, can all be used for treat and chew storage. This is particularly useful for dog parents who are on a budget or in a pinch for a speedy storage solution. Just make sure the upcycled containers you select can seal tightly and are cleaned thoroughly before use with your dog’s treats and chews.
- Portable snack bags: If you like to give your dog treats on the go, such as training treats during a walk, some portable storage options could come in handy. For this, you can use anything from small containers (like repurposed spice jars) to resealable snack bags. These options allow you to transport treats without compromising their freshness or exposing them to elements that could cause deterioration or contamination.
Labelling and organising treats and chews
Here are some tips and ideas for organisational and labelling practices you can use for dog treat and chew storage:
- Labelling tips: Labelling treat containers with chalkboard labels, stickers, or permanent markers can help you keep track of different treat types and expiration dates. This makes it easy to grab the right treat or chew and ensures you’ll remember to use them up before they expire. Clear labelling is especially helpful for households with multiple pets or treat varieties.
- Using storage bins or baskets: Small baskets or storage bins can be a great way to organise various treats, keeping them neatly grouped and easy to access. Bins help create a dedicated treat area, making it simple to find what you need without rummaging through drawers. Organised storage also keeps your pet area tidy and functional.
Storage tips for maximum freshness
Here are some additional tips for maintaining optimal freshness:
- Cool, dry storage locations: Keeping treats in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and heat is essential for maximum freshness. Heat and direct sunlight can cause treats to spoil faster, impacting their taste and nutritional quality. A pantry or cupboard is ideal for maintaining a stable temperature and protecting treats from environmental factors.
- Keeping chews separate: Storing chews in their own bags or containers helps prevent stronger smells from transferring to other treats. Some chews have potent odours that can affect the flavour and appeal of milder treats if stored together. Separate storage also helps keep chews fresh and minimises mess.
Final thoughts
Dog treats and chews can last a long time when stored correctly. Therefore, proper storage ensures that you get your money’s worth out of the treats and chews you purchase. It also helps maintain the quality of the products by protecting them from harmful elements that may cause contamination or degradation, providing your pooch with a safe and delicious chewing/snacking experience. There are many storage options to explore for varying budgets, lifestyles, and needs, with the key factors being a tight seal and a cool, dry location.
If you need further advice about proper storage for your dog’s treats and chews, please feel free to reach out for assistance!
