Special treats for our four legged friends

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NudgeThemBack #CollectiveBias

I used to tell people that I am just not a dog person. I did not want a furry four legged friend.  Used to…then came a furry fluffy beast who bounded into our lives and our hearts. Meet Speedo!

That was Speedo almost 2 years ago when we first brought him home. Note: I wanted to name him chocolate chip but my son wanted to name him Speedo after his favorite swim suit, go figure.

I am huge believer in rescuing dogs and adopting from local shelters but I have horrible allergies to all breeds of dogs except for special breeds deemed hypoallergenic. Speedo is a cockapoo – half cocker spaniel and half poodle. He has beautiful brown and white curly fur but does not shed. And miraculously I am not allergic to him. My boys were so happy to finally be able to have a dog.

In the past 2 years Speedo has become a member of our family. He and my youngest son are just like brothers. They wrestle and play and snuggle. Speedo LOVES to snuggle.

Speedo is also a very smart dog. He can shake hands, give us high fives, sit, dance, and jump on command. He can catch balls and fetch. Recently we have been trying to teach him to go through tunnels. So how were we able to teach Speedo all this tricks? We use positive reinforcement that includes verbal praise, physical touch (petting and hugs), and of course treats. We just tried Nudges Grillers and Sizzlers for the first time, Speedo loves them. Doing tricks and playing games with us helps keep Speedo from getting bored. Dogs that are bred tend to be naughty, they might chew things or get into things. It is also important to make sure your dog gets enough exercise. That means lots of walks and running in the yard.

We love to include Speedo in all our activities and he joins us for cooking out on the deck and he loves to go camping with us. With Nudges Grillers Speedo can have a grillers treat while we enjoy our dinner from the grill. Good nutrition is key to a happy healthy dog. We use treats to motivate, reward, and show our dog love so we need to make sure we choose our dogs treats carefully. I love that Nudges Grillers have no artificial preservatives and are made in the USA with only USA-sourced protein.

Turns out Speedo is also a ham. We took him to the dog park to work on the tunnel trick. I brought my camera hoping to capture him coming out of the tunnel. He was not interested in the tunnel but he did pose for lots of pictures with his new Nudges Grillers treats.

I also think it is so important for dogs to play with other dogs. They need socialization as much as we do. Speedo is a very friendly dog. He enjoys playing with his friends at the dog park and in our neighborhood. Speedo shared some of his new Chicken and Bacon flavored Nudges Sizzlers with his friend Ruby. Of course he asked Ruby’s owner if it was okay to share first!

If you are looking for a special treat for your four legged furry family member, give Nudges a try, your fur baby will thank you with an extra snuggle. You can pick up the new Nudges Grillers and Sizzlers at Walmart. Walmart also has the Nudges Jerky cuts in a new 36oz value size. Check out all the flavors at nudgesdogtreats.com and let me know which one you think your dog would love the most!