What Treats To Use For Training?

[RSX JDM Integra]

I've tried Milk-Bone products where it claims to have REAL BONE MARROW. But the dogs only show interest before feeding. After feeding they don't really pay much attention to the treats.

I wanted to use these to train them the basic commands and it isn't working because they lack the interest in these treats. I bought these because they are 10 calories each compared to some other treats that are much higher. I was trying to feed in small portions so that I can reinforce the behavior better several times a day.

Any treats you guys particularly know that dogs will love and isn't fattening and available on the shelves of a store?

[WES]

String cheese is a good treat, just cut it into small pieces. You can eat it too.:)
Also Wellness has some jerky products, (I use salmon and venison) good ingredients, no artificial junk.

[squirtsmom]

HHHmmm, you said healthy. Shoot, I usually use bacon.

[Dekka]

Diced cheese (I would eat the string cheese so for us its a no go) Diced hot dog, diced roll over, kibble soaked in bacon grease, dehydrated liver, liver treats I make my self, cooked chicken hearts, salmon treats I make myself, and on occasion, pounce cat treats.

[RSX JDM Integra]

I got a question;

When you guys refer to these cheeses, do you mean the ones we can eat like say by Kraft? I thought dogs weren't allowed to eat human food but I know they do anyways. Is it safe to just buy string cheese at a local grocery and just feed some to the dogs?

I also noted that I can never get her to lay down because when I put the treat next to her nose and then move it down to the floor, she just gets up to follow closer to it or just bends down to eat it while sitting. :( At least she's sitting? :lol-sign:

[squirtsmom]

Man, my dogs love kraft cheese.

[RSX JDM Integra]

I'm sure they do. I don't think the ingredients in dog cheese and human cheese differ greatly, maybe just nutrients added for their diet.

I'm just trying to promote healthy treats that will get their attention because if she's any part corgi, being overweight is a no-no. But I just also noticed something. Maybe a treat they eat too often gets them not wanting it just like how we eat something often and get over craving it. I guess I should try new things but I don't know where to start.

I really don't want to make up a recipe or follow one. I'd more than prefer to just buy something in the local store or even online store that you guys know of.

[Dekka]

Most human food is healthier than most dog food. I feed mine regular cheese.

[simplymisty]

I did hotdogs, string cheese (per the dog trainer - we HAD to bring those with us). She used freeze dried liver treats and ALL the dogs went crazy for that.

When trying to teach to lay down - get into a sit. Take the treat to the nose then bring it down and push it back - that worked for one of my guys. They had to scootch back and then they went into a lay.

[RD]

Lately I've been using low-sodium hotdogs, thinly sliced, microwaved until they're quite crispy (so they keep longer and don't get my hands greasy). They're pretty cheap and a very high-value reward to my dogs.

[Tazwell]

What I've done before, with my greedy dachshund, is do her training at feeding time. I fed her kibble to her once piece at a time, each piece being a "Treat" for a trick. I liked it, it worked out great and she wasn't getting too many treats, but I can't help but wonder-- Is there something wrong with that? It seems to easy to be true...

[Herschel]

What I've done before, with my greedy dachshund, is do her training at feeding time. I fed her kibble to her once piece at a time, each piece being a "Treat" for a trick. I liked it, it worked out great and she wasn't getting too many treats, but I can't help but wonder-- Is there something wrong with that? It seems to easy to be true...

It's a great idea and we do it for rewarding easy behaviors or things that don't need significant reinforcement.

However, a lot of dogs value certain treats more than other. Kibble is towards the lower end of the spectrum in terms of tastiness. Thus, we use fancy schmancy training treats for teaching important behaviors and in the presence of distractions.

[mantine]

for hard treats i use Charlie Bears, they are small and round and only have 3 calories each. I get them at petsmart.

For soft treats I can't remeber the name but it looks like a roll of sausage but its from petsmart and I cut it into small peices.

[whatszmatter]

The soft treats I think you're referring to are the Natural balance rolls, I cut those into tiny pieces as well and use them. Very easy and good.

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/DFRolls.html

I also use regular old beef hearts. Less fatty and smelly than liver, I stopped making those treats a while ago. I just cut the heart into strips and brown it in a pan, and cut into small pieces with a scissors and use it for tracking bait and training treats. You could do the same with liver as well. I don't add all the flour and garlic and other stuff the recipes call for, just plain meat works great.

[Chell]

my dogs LOVE the solid gold lamb jerky treats.....and i usually break them in half. they like treats that are soft as opposed to the hard crunchy milkbones.

[Zoom]

I use a variety of things, Charlee bears, Natural Balance rolls, carrots, baked chicken breast, hot dogs, etc. So long as you watch the sodium content and don't go overboard with treating (you may have to adjust the amount of kibble your pup is eating if you've had a particularly heavy treat day) it doesn't much matter if you're using some human food. Most of it's healthier than Milkbones anyway.

For the down, since she's already sitting it should be pretty easy to get her to do the rest. Have her sit, then slip your thumb through her collar and gently splay your fingers over her shoulders with your fingers pointing towards her rump. Have a treat ready and slowly move it in an "L" pattern: go straight down to her feet with it (her nose should be touching the treat at all times during this) then when the treat is on the floor, move it outwards for the "leg" of the L. Since you're holding her in place, she can't just inch forward in a sitting position and will have to lie down in order to stretch far enough to get the treat. :)

[Dekka]

for hard treats i use Charlie Bears, they are small and round and only have 3 calories each. I get them at petsmart.

For soft treats I can't remeber the name but it looks like a roll of sausage but its from petsmart and I cut it into small peices.
Ya those are the rollover I mentions. Someone else mentioned that natural balance makes them too. My guys prefer the rollover...it has more nasty animal parts in it ewwww


hmm maybe we need a dog treat recipe thread..The beef hearts are good, similar to what i do with the chicken hearts.

[whatszmatter]

where do you get rollover? I've never heard of it before. the more nasty animal parts the better I say

[beth2]

yah, we use diced up hotdog when we dont have anything else...small bits of soft treat is best I find because then you dont have to wait for the dog sit there and chew it...and if they wolf it down like my dog...its small enough that they dont choke on it.
I normally save meat scraps (chicken,hotdog,bacon) from dinner and dice them up and freeze them... then I have irrisistable treats when I need them. If you are worried about extra calories, subtract the amount of treats given from their daily kibble.
Havent tried cheese but I bet that my dog would love that too.
these treats can be messy in pockets and for handling though....so we bought a little bait bag at petsmart. It clips on your pants. EAsy access and Very convienent.

[Dekka]

where do you get rollover? I've never heard of it before. the more nasty animal parts the better I say

Most pet stores here sell roll over, maybe its a canadian thing? http://www.rolloverpetfood.com/rolls.html not a great website, but it gives you an idea what the package looks like.

[Lucie'smom]

I don't have an answer...but I just wanted to say, that I use to live in High River (where Rollover is made.) and man did it ever STINK when they made food. LOL! I'm sure it is great stuff and I have heard nothing but good things about it....but YUCK, that is a smell I will never forget.:lol-sign:

[lubspaniel]

I am using liver treats and he loves them!

[heartdogs]

Try this recipe - dogs that don't know their names will come when called!
Trust me.

Sioux's Favorite Liver Treats

1 - 1 1/2 lbs. of chicken livers with juices, liquefied in blender
1 c. organic wheat flour (can use another kind if your dog is allergic)
1 c. organic corn meal
1 organic large egg
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. olive oil
Mix all ingredients and spread thin on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 415 degrees for 15 minutes and cut with a pizza cutter while still warm. If you want, you can substitute a 16 ounce can of pink salmon for the liver. These freeze really well, and I usually split this into about 4-5 bags of treats.

[Copiuos]

I cooked a small turkey and cut it into small pieces then froze them in ziplock bags. When it's time I pull out and microwave a bag. As soon as I open it my dog is more than ready. :D