Dogs go crazy for string cheese for a few key reasons. Firstly, string cheese is an incredibly tasty, protein-packed snack that provides dogs with a nutritious boost of energy. The strings are also fun for dogs to chew and pull apart. Additionally, the salty, savory flavor of string cheese is very appetizing to dogs. Keep reading to find out more about why dogs love string cheese so much!
The Taste and Texture Appeal to Dogs
One of the main reasons dogs love string cheese is simply because of its delicious taste and unique stringy texture. String cheese is made from mozzarella, which has a salty, savory, mildly tart flavor profile. This flavor is very enticing to dogs, much more so than bland foods like rice or plain chicken. The strings are also very fun for dogs to grip and pull apart with their teeth, satisfying their natural chewing instinct. Dogs love foods that keep them engaged and entertained as they eat. String cheese allows them to enjoy chewing satisfaction along with yummy tastes.
High Protein Content
Another reason dogs adore string cheese is its high protein content. String cheese is a concentrated dairy protein, often containing 10 grams or more of protein per ounce. Since dogs are carnivores whose diets should consist primarily of meat-based proteins, the rich protein level of string cheese makes it very appetizing. The protein gives dogs a big nutritional boost in a small package, appealing to their physiological dietary needs. Just a couple sticks of string cheese can provide a significant protein punch for a dog.
Low in Fat
While string cheese is high in protein, it is relatively low in fat, especially compared to many other human snack foods. For example, beef jerky often has 15 grams of fat or more per ounce, whereas string cheese often has 5 grams of fat or less. Lower fat foods like string cheese are healthier options to give to dogs for training treats or snacks. The lean protein content provides nutritious benefits without excess fatty calories.
Convenient Finger Food
String cheese is conveniently packaged as individual sticks, making it a handy finger food to give to your dog. The mini size and built-in portions allow you to easily control serving sizes. String cheese is easy to toss in a bag for on-the-go snacking or traveling. It doesn’t crumble and make a mess like many other dog treats. It’s also shelf-stable so there’s no need to refrigerate string cheese sticks after opening. All of these practical characteristics make string cheese a favorite grab-and-go snack for dogs.
Appealing Texture for Chewing
The long stringy texture of mozzarella cheese is extremely enticing for dogs to chew. Dogs love to work their jaws on interesting foods and string cheese offers an engaging chew experience. As dogs pull the strings apart, some pieces shred while others remain in longer strands, creating a dynamic and fun chewing challenge. Dogs also like being able to lick and nibble the tasty cheese remnants off their lips after chewing. String cheese satisfies dogs’ natural instinct to work for their food as they tear, tug and gnaw at it.
Cleans Teeth and Gums
The chewing action on string cheese also helps clean dogs’ teeth and massage their gums. The fibrous strings rub against the surfaces of teeth to scrape away soft plaque buildup. This provides a degree of natural dental care for dogs. The massaging motion of chewing also stimulates gums and improves oral health. Giving dogs string cheese frequently can help reduce tartar and support gum health.
Soothes Teething Discomfort
For puppies, string cheese can soothe discomfort during teething. The soft but sturdy texture gives teething puppies something to gnaw on for relief but isn’t so hard that it harms their young teeth and gums. Puppies can sink their sore little teeth into string cheese without causing further pain. The mild saltiness is also soothing. String cheese is a great way to help puppies manage teething misery.
Occupies Bored Dogs
Dogs prone to boredom, anxiety or destructive chewing habits often benefit from having long-lasting chews like string cheese to occupy them. It takes dogs a while to demolish a whole stick, keeping them happily distracted and less likely to chew inappropriate items. The appealing texture gives anxious dogs an outlet for stress chewing urges. String cheese is a healthy boredom buster.
Fulfilling Treat for Training
String cheese is a nutritious, high-value treat that makes an excellent training tool for dogs. Its appetizing taste and texture mean that most dogs consider it a very rewarding treat. Dogs are eager to obey when string cheese is offered for positive reinforcement. The handy individual sticks let trainers easily dole out tiny bits during sessions. String cheese can be broken into small bites so dogs don’t fill up too fast while training. Dogs remain motivated and focused when string cheese treats are involved.
Easy to Use for Food Rewards
Compared to dry dog biscuits, string cheese is much faster for trainers to cut up into tiny reward pieces to keep training moving along. The soft texture makes it very easy to pinch off teeny bites quickly to reinforce dogs’ good behaviors right away. Trainers don’t slow down training pace fiddling with hard or sticky treats. With adaptable and motivating string cheese as training treats, sessions progress smoothly.
Portable for On-the-Go Training
Unlike loose training treats, string cheese doesn’t make a mess in treat pouches or pockets during on-the-go training. The tidy stick shape means it travels well for any impromptu training opportunity. The no-crumb consistency keeps hands and pockets clean. People are more likely to bring string cheese for handy, portable training sessions. For active or working dogs like service dogs, string cheese offers protein without the mess of loose treats.
Low-Calorie for Repeated Treats
String cheese is low enough in calories that dogs can be rewarded many times in a training session without overdoing it on calories. This allows trainers to reinforce desired behaviors as much as needed. With only around 50 calories per ounce, dogs can eat 10 or more string cheese treats in a session without it comprising a significant portion of their daily diet. The high protein keeps dogs energized without expanding their waistlines.
Appealing Flavor
The top reason dogs go crazy for string cheese is simply its scrumptious, cheese-y flavor. Cheese contains compounds that are very tasty and enticing to dogs such as fatty acids, lactose and salt. The flavor profile of cheese triggers dogs’ sensors for high-fat, high-protein foods that used to indicate calorie-dense prey when dogs existed as wild predators. So for dogs, the savory cheese flavor equates to an irresistible, appetizing food source. Dogs are programmed to love cheese!
Contains Compounds Attractive to Dogs
Scientific research indicates there are certain compounds in cheese, milk and other dairy products that make them particularly attractive to dogs. One is lactose, the natural milk sugar, which dogs can detect even better than humans can. Another is very smelly fatty acids that give cheese its distinctive aroma. Triglyceride fats also appeal to dogs’ innate taste for fat- and protein-rich foods. Additionally, the small amount of salt in cheese improves its palatability.
Powerfully Smelly Yet Low-Calorie
Cheese is also appealing because it offers an intensely smelly, fatty food experience but in a lower-calorie form. One ounce of cheese fulfills dogs’ craving for the scent of meaty richness without the higher calorie load of true meat. Strong-smelling cheeses like mozzarella in string cheese provide satisfying sensory stimulation for dogs without bulk calorie consumption.
| Food | Calories per ounce |
|---|---|
| Mozzarella string cheese | 50 |
| Beef jerky | 100 |
| Hot dog | 80 |
Unique Texture Enhances Flavor
The long stringy ropes of mozzarella cheese allow flavors to spread across dogs’ tongues as they chew. This maximizes how much tongue surface area contacts the savory taste. Dry crumbly treats don’t distribute flavor as well. The fat content also adheres to the tongue longer to extend flavor duration. These traits make each bite of string cheese a powerfully delicious cheese blast for dogs!
Easy to Digest
Another bonus of string cheese for dogs is that it is fairly easy for them to digest, compared to some other treats and human foods. The soft, smooth, consistent texture moves through the gastrointestinal tract readily. Moisture-rich fresh cheeses like mozzarella don’t tend to irritate dogs’ stomachs or cause excess gas the way some crunchy, fibrous or fatty treats might. The protein and fat also digest fairly easily. This makes string cheese less likely to cause stomach upsets. Ease of digestion improves string cheese appeal for many dogs.
Low Fiber Content
Compared to many commercial dog treats that contain cereal grains and fillers, string cheese has very minimal fiber content. The lack of insoluble fiber means string cheese doesn’t irritate dogs’ digestive tracts. It passes through smoothly without stimulating excess gas or loose stools. Treats high in fibrous materials may tax some dogs’ digestive systems.
No Seasonings or Additives
Plain mozzarella string cheese typically does not contain any additional flavors, spices, herbs or other additives. The simple, pure ingredients are gentle on dogs’ stomachs. Some seasoned cheese snacks have onions, garlic or other stomach irritants for dogs. Plain string cheese avoids these extra ingredients that may cause gastric upset.
Contains Some Prebiotics
Mozzarella and other fresh cheeses have small amounts of carbohydrates that serve as prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that support digestive health by nourishing good gut bacteria. The modest prebiotic content of string cheese helps maintain healthy digestion in dogs.
Safety Precautions for Dogs
While string cheese is perfectly safe for most dogs, there are some precautions owners should take when feeding it. As with any human food offered to dogs, portion control is very important. Too much string cheese can lead to diarrhea, weight gain or other issues. Supervision is also advised to avoid choking hazards from big chunks. Lastly, some dogs are lactose intolerant and cheese may cause gas or vomiting.
Watch Portion Sizes
String cheese should only comprise a small portion of a dog’s overall daily calories to avoid nutritional imbalances. About 1 to 2 ounces per day based on dog size is a reasonable guideline. Break large sticks into multiple pieces to control portion size. Too much cheese could lead to pancreatitis in susceptible dogs. Monitor that string cheese remains a treat.
Avoid Choking Hazards
Always supervise dogs when eating string cheese to prevent choking on big pieces they bite off. This risk is highest with ravenous eaters. Break string cheese into small pieces beforehand for gulpers. Check that pieces have been adequately chewed before swallowing. Remove rinds once strings are gone.
Monitor for Lactose Intolerance
Some dogs don’t properly digest dairy due to lactose intolerance. Monitor dogs when first trying string cheese. Discontinue use if you notice flatulence, diarrhea or vomiting afterwards. Symptoms typically happen within 12 hours. Consult a veterinarian if symptoms are severe.
Conclusion
String cheese is a protein-packed, mouth-watering snack that most dogs find absolutely irresistible. Its appealing taste and texture, ease of chewing, high protein content, low calories and portability make it a stellar choice for training treats, daily snacks and giving dogs something occupying to chew on. While giving dogs any human food requires some precautions, string cheese is a fairly safe option within limits. Focus on small portion sizes and supervise chewing. Within appropriate guidelines, give your dog a string cheese stick and see their eyes light up with cheese-loving joy!