This is a specific conversation about Dog treats — what's worth giving — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
If arthritis makes stiff, heat-sealed treat bags a daily frustration, that's worth solving properly — the packaging matters just as much as what's inside. The best treats are high in protein, low in additives, and sized right for the dog. Most popular brands are nutritionally poor despite the flashy packaging. Single-ingredient treats — dried meat, fish skin — are usually the best choice. To point you toward something practical: what's your Maltese's name and weight, does she have any dietary restrictions or sensitivities, and are the treats mainly for training, daily rewards, or something else?
Her name is Daisy, she's about 4kg. No allergies that we know of. My mum is 78 and struggles to grip things — she mainly gives Daisy treats through the day as little rewards, nothing structured. She'd need something she can open without a lot of force or fiddly seals.
inparticular.ai
Got it — so small, frequent reward treats for a tiny dog, and the packaging needs to be genuinely manageable for someone with limited grip. That rules out most foil pouches with tight heat seals. What kind of treats does Daisy currently get, and does she have any preference — chewy versus crunchy? That'll help me check the texture is right for an 8-year-old Maltese too, since older small dogs sometimes have softer teeth.
She's been getting those Bonio biscuits but honestly I think they're just filler. She'll eat anything though. Mum finds the bag hard to roll and clip shut each time.
inparticular.ai
You're right about Bonio — mostly cereal and not much else. For Daisy I'd recommend Lily's Kitchen Baked Treats for Dogs, the small dog variety. They come in a proper resealable zip-top bag that opens and closes easily without needing much grip strength — no rolling, no clips. The treats themselves are small, lightly crunchy, and made with real meat as the primary ingredient, so they're a significant step up nutritionally. They're sized well for a Maltese and easy to snap in half if you want even smaller pieces. Your mum can just unzip, shake a couple out, and zip it back. Available on Amazon UK and most pet retailers.
That sounds ideal actually. Is there anything else she should watch with an 8-year-old Maltese when it comes to treats?
inparticular.ai
At 8, Daisy is a senior dog. Maltese are prone to dental issues, so avoiding very hard or overly sticky treats is sensible. Keep portions small — a 4kg dog doesn't need many calories from treats, maybe 10% of daily intake at most. If your mum is giving treats throughout the day, it adds up quickly, so smaller pieces rather than whole treats each time is a good habit. Also worth keeping an eye on weight at this age, since weight gain in older small dogs puts pressure on joints.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll order those for her.
inparticular.ai
Good — Daisy will be well looked after. The zip bag genuinely makes a difference day to day for your mum. If you ever want a single-ingredient option to rotate in, dried sprats or chicken strips in a tub with a push-fit lid are worth looking at — easier to handle than pouches and great for small dogs.
