Serving
Treat or topper: two ways to use the same bag
Updated
The difference in a dog treat vs food topper is how you use it: a treat is handed over on its own, while a topper is crumbled over the regular meal. You can use a treat from our box either way, and both add to the bowl rather than stand in for it.
What makes something a treat and something a topper?
Use, not substance. A treat is a thing you give directly: from your hand, as a reward, a greeting or a small break in the day. A topper is a thing you put on top of a regular meal. The same piece can do both jobs on different days, and nothing about it changes except where it lands.
Some products are sold as toppers and some as treats, but the label on the front describes the way the maker expects it to be used. It is not a different kind of food. Our box is made of treats: our own single ingredient treats, freeze dried or air dried in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and some have a Greek yogurt or cheddar cheese base. If you want to know more about how those forms are handled at the table, the freeze dried dog treats page has a section on serving.
How do you turn a box treat into a topper?
Break it up over the bowl. If a piece snaps between your fingers, snap it. If it bends, kitchen scissors do the job in a couple of snips. Work right over the food so the crumbs land where you want them.
Some people add a splash of water if the dog likes the topping softer. That is optional and there is no right measurement, so go slowly and let the dog tell you what works. We are not claiming that every piece in a given month crumbles. The lineup changes monthly, and pieces differ, so judge each one in your hands.
How much topper is enough?
A small amount. A topper is still a treat, so it counts as part of the treats for the day, not as something separate. If you crumble some over breakfast and hand one over after the walk, that is two treat moments, not one treat and one free pass.
We do not give feeding advice and the box has no one amount that fits every dog. Ask your veterinarian how much of the day's food can come from treats and toppers for your dog. Then pick a daily share and stay with it.
When does a treat work better on its own?
When the moment is the point. A reward after a walk, a hello at the door, a recall that went well: those are handed over directly, because the hand-off is part of what the dog notices. Crumbled into a bowl it just becomes more food.
A whole piece is also easier to count. If you are keeping track of treats for the day, individual pieces are simple to tally, while a pinch of crumbs is not. Either way, the box covers both: a new monthly lineup of our treats, dog or cat, with proteins you name left out. See the Modified Monthly page for how it works.
Can a topper ever become the meal?
No. A topper sits on top of a regular meal, and if it begins to replace what is underneath, it has crossed over from topper to main course. Our treats are for intermittent or supplemental feeding, which means now and then and in addition to the regular diet. The page on intermittent or supplemental feeding explains what those words do and do not mean.
If you want more how-tos like this one, the guides hub collects them.
Questions
Can I put freeze-dried treats on my dog's food?
Yes, as an addition. Break the treat over the regular meal and keep the amount small. Freeze dried or air dried, the treat counts toward the day's treats and does not replace the food in the bowl. The rest of the meal stays exactly as it was.
Do I need to soak a treat before using it as a topper?
No. Soaking is optional. Some owners add a splash of water for a softer topping, and some leave the pieces dry. We give no ratios or soak times, since the lineup changes monthly. Start with very little and let your dog's response guide you.
Will a topper get my dog to finish its food?
We cannot promise that. A topper changes what is on the bowl, and that is all we can say about it. If your dog is leaving meals alone for days at a time, that is bigger than anything a topper should be asked to fix.
Should a topper count toward the day's treats?
Yes. It is the same treat, just served in a different spot. If you crumble some over a meal, count it with the pieces you hand out later. Keeping one running tally for the day is the simplest way to stay on top of it.
Which box treats work as a topper?
Any piece you can break by hand over the bowl. Because contents and varieties change by month, and photos in the listing are examples, we cannot name which treats will work in a given month. Pick them up, see how they break, and decide piece by piece.
Can I use cat box treats as a topper for my cat?
The same idea applies. Cat box treats can go over a cat's regular food as an addition, never in place of it. Break a piece over the meal in small amounts, and count it among the day's treats just as you would for a dog.