Not all bones are good for dogs. They must never be given chicken bones. These bones splinter when chewed and the splinters can stick in the animal’s guts. In fact, small bones of any kind should not be given to dogs.

If you give him a large bone, say a ham bone, that is fine. He will enjoy chewing it, playing with it, or even burying it.

Ox-Tail bones, well stewed, are also a good choice.

Sharing your chocolates with your pet is also a really bad idea. Chocolate can be poisonous to both cats and dogs. It makes them very ill and some even die from it. There is no antidote, so it is better not to let them eat chocolate at all. Not every pet is affected but there is always a chance that yours will be the one to suffer. There are special chocolates for animals that are sold through pet-shops. These are safe to give to your pet.

Most dogs like commercially made dog biscuits, treat sticks or strips. They also come in handy as “teaching aids” when training him.

If you are really enterprising, you can go on-line and find recipes for home-made dog biscuits which are fun to make. You can even buy bone-shaped biscuit cutters in different sizes.