Were you one of those kids who snacked on Milk Bones? While I didn’t think they tasted good, they were palatable enough to chew and swallow (just to gross my friends out).
While one story suggests dog biscuits were created in London as a failed human snack, most attribute James Spratt with inventing honors in 1860, specifically for dogs. In either case, we’ve had over a century to celebrate National Dog Biscuit Day! Yes, it’s a thing, and it’s coming up on February 23rd.
Dog lovers should celebrate by treating their canine companion to the best biscuit there is…but how is that determined?
Since Best Biscuit isn’t one of the Oscar categories this year, we put together our own nominees to help you zero in on the perfect holiday reward for your buddy.
Which one is best? Well, our seven compared brands may differ in preference depending on your dog, but ultimately we think we’ve determined the best option.
Runner Up: Milk Bone
Cliché? Sure, but you can’t mess with a classic. While they aren’t as high in protein as other options, the big brand offers one of the most affordable price point if the budget is tight, making Milk Bone a gateway biscuit to healthier options as you narrow a search to discover your dog’s niche.
7. Eukanuba Healthy Extras
High protein and a healthy amount of fat make this brand a good bet for puppies, specifically the puppy growth biscuits if you have a new, four-legged family member 1-12 months. Eukanuba is of the more affordable options as well.
6. Nutro Natural Choice
The term “natural” doesn’t appear in this brand by chance; they stand by a commitment to avoiding unnatural additives with those frightening scientific names.
Nutro sticks to the basics. If your dog suffers from a delicate digestive tract, this may be their treat of choice; among their options, they offer a chicken-based sensitive stomach biscuit.
5. Old Mother Hubbard
No artificial colors or flavors impact classic or flavored treats from the same company that produces the high quality wellness dog food. Peanut butter, eggs, carrots, and other ingredients produce tasty biscuits like Bac’n Cheez and Just Vegg’n. The Char Tar option makes OMH a great brand if you’re looking for tartar control.
4. Canidae
With very few, natural ingredients and options like wild boar and kale, Canidae is a delicious option for discerning dog lovers. They even offer tasty grain-free and gluten-free options for animals with allergies.
3. Blue Buffalo
Maybe we just like the name, but the real meat, guarantee of no byproducts, and steering clear of soy, corn, and wheat make it a safe and healthy wager for snack time.
Cold-formed nutrients add even more benefit, and the company is undeniably filled with animal lovers.
2. Ultra
Boasting high quality protein and even adding antioxidants to boost your dog’s immune system, Ultra may be one of the better choices and ranks high on our list.
Produced by Nutro for their ultraholistic line of products, online reviews testify that they’re worth the extra price. Grab a bag of their wild blueberry and pomegranate biscuits and add some fruity fun to National Dog Biscuit Day!
But finally…
1. There’s No Place Like Home(made)
Let’s face it, nothing says I love you (or celebrates a holiday as oddly specific as Dog Biscuit Day) like rolling up your sleeves and making that biscuit with your own two hands!
You don’t have to be a genius in the kitchen, and based on the tastes your dog already evinces you can select one of many recipe ideas online. Try some of these scrumptious options:
Pop on over to Pinterest for some visual inspiration, or watch these British gents try their hand at dog biscuit baking:
Of course, if you really want to make National Dog Biscuit Day a holiday to remember, grab all the options on this list, and a few more, bake some homemade treats, and have a great biscuit taste test with your canine companion on February 23rd! Find out which treat drives them wild and zero in on how to best reward them. After all, they deserve it!