Best treats for a rescue Greyhound on a budget

Taking on a rescue Greyhound at eight years old is a great thing to do — and getting the treats right matters more than most people realise. The best options are high in protein, low in additives, and sized for the dog. A lot of popular treats are mostly filler despite the fancy packaging. Single-ingredient dried meats or fish skins are usually the honest choice. To point you somewhere specific: how big is your Greyhound, do you know of any food sensitivities or allergies from the rescue, and what are the treats mainly for — building trust and bonding, or something else?

That unknown history is actually pretty common with ex-racing dogs. The good news is it just means you start simple — one ingredient, nothing fancy, so if she does react to anything you know exactly what caused it. For bonding and trust-building you want something she finds genuinely exciting but that you can give frequently without overloading her diet. What does she seem drawn to so far — has she shown any interest in food at all, or is she still a bit shut down?

Good — that appetite is your best tool right now. Go with Forthglade 100% Natural Chicken Liver treats. They're a single ingredient, so no hidden additives and nothing to worry about if her history is blank. Chicken liver is rich enough to be genuinely motivating for most dogs without being fatty or heavy. They're soft, which matters for an older dog who may have dental wear from racing, and they break easily so you can keep pieces small for repeated rewarding. A 90g bag costs around £2.50–£3 on Amazon UK, which goes a long way when you're using small pieces. Start with tiny amounts over the first few days and watch for any loose stools — that's your only real risk with a dog whose gut history you don't know, and it's easily managed by going slow.

It's a fair concern but with small treat pieces and chicken liver specifically, weight gain isn't really the issue. Greyhounds are naturally lean and visible hip and spine is normal for the breed — it doesn't mean they're underweight. What you're watching for is waist definition and ribs that you can feel with light pressure but not see prominently at rest. If she's eating her meals well and getting a few treat pieces a day, her weight will be fine. The bigger priority right now is just letting her associate you with good things — the treats are doing a job, not just filling her up.

Good call. Keep the pieces small, be patient with her — ex-racers often take a few weeks to really come out of their shell — and you'll see the difference quickly once she connects you with those treats. She's landed well.