Owners of little dogs get a uncooked deal when shopping for treats, getting a lot much less for his or her money in comparison with folks with large breeds.
They can find yourself paying almost 4 occasions as a lot per gram since large manufacturers cost an enormous premium for smaller variations of equivalent chews. It has been dubbed a “small dog tax”.
Leading pet food manufacturers, together with Pedigree, Purina, Wainwrights and Webbox, promote different-sized chews for small, medium or large breeds.
While there are extra particular person treats in packs for little dogs, every deal with is significantly smaller- so, total, packs for giant dogs weigh rather more.
Yet manufacturers cost the identical worth.
For Pedigree’s Dentastix, the market-leading chews given to pooches at bedtime, “maxi!” multipacks cost £11 at Tesco.
The model for small dogs like Dachshunds weighs 550g, for medium ones like Cocker Spaniels it’s 720g and for big pooches like Labradors it’s 810g.
It means for a similar worth, homeowners of enormous dogs get 47 per cent extra.
The largest variation is with Wainwrights Dental Sticks, which promote for £3.99 for seven at Pets At Home.
The model for small breeds weighs 70g, medium 140g and enormous 266g.
So anybody with, say, a Husky will get almost 4 occasions as a lot because the proprietor of a Pomeranian.
‘It’s irritating to need to pay the identical quantity for much less’
Amy Martin, 30, from Cardiff, Wales, stated: “It’s frustrating to have to pay the same amount for less. So I get the bigger versions of treats for my chihuahua-cross Remy.
“It’s saved some money, but it has some consequences; he put on a few extra pounds.
“I did initially break them in two or three, but then he would look at me with his puppy dog eyes and I would just let him have the whole thing.”
Another large variation is with Webbox’s new Tasty Treats, which promote for £1.20 at Tesco. The model for small breeds weighs 30g, however for big ones it’s 83 per cent greater at 55g.
For Jumbone treats, additionally from Pedigree, packs for big dogs are 12.5 per cent greater than for small ones, however each are £2.59 at Pets At Home. Small dogs get 4 40g chews, however giant dogs get one 180g chew.
With Purina’s Dentalife, additionally sticks for bedtime, the bins for big dogs are 30 per cent greater.
For its own-brand meat-filled bone treats, Morrisons fees 10p extra for a pack for small dogs, although it’s 10 per cent smaller than the pack for big breeds.
Personal finance knowledgeable Sarah Coles, from Hargreaves Lansdown, stated: “It’s a small dog tax, or a terrier tax, when you think about it.
“With smaller versions of products, part of the problem is that the items have to go through the same manufacturing and packaging processes and need the same distribution. In the case of branded goods, they have to pay a share of the same advertising and marketing too.
“It’s only the raw materials that differ, and when they make up a small percentage of the cost price, you end up paying far more per gram.”
More cost efficient
Vets have one answer; don’t purchase treats. Lynne James, from veterinary charity PDSA, stated: “When prices for everything are going up, it’s worth remembering that treats for our pets should be just that, an occasional treat as a reward in training. They are often high in additional calories and can contribute to weight gain.
“If a dental chew is part of your routine, consider switching to brushing your pet’s teeth instead; it’s better for their teeth and may be more cost effective.”
Brands warn that particular-sized chews are solely appropriate for dogs of that measurement, primarily so smaller dogs don’t overeat.
There are additionally fears that little pooches like Dachshunds may choke on chews for greater dogs like Labradors, which in flip would swallow tiny treats in a single.
A spokesman from Pets at Home stated: “We sell different-sized treats as part of our commitment to pet welfare and while this does sometimes mean costs vary, it also enables greater consumer choice, which is key for finding the right product for the right pet.”
A spokesman for Purina-maker Nestlé stated: “Manufacturing costs will vary for each product as each chew is specifically designed to fit the shape of the dog’s mouth, clean a dog’s teeth efficiently and also provide the correct nutrients relative to a dog’s size.
“Pet owners should always feed the right product size, as a whole chew, as per feeding guidelines. Breaking or cutting up a chew could lead to potential risks such as over-feeding, difficulties in chewing the product and could also be a safety hazard.”
