What about training treats?

Texas-Girl · 10-12-2008, 10:14 AM

After I adopt my new dog, I plan to feed her the food that she ate while in her foster home for awhile then switch over to Innova. (I looked at the Dog Food Analysis page and it's highly regarded plus people here in this forum really seem to recommend it.)

But now I'm confused on what to use for our training treats.

Any suggestions?

MyCharlie · 10-12-2008, 11:15 AM

There are lots of options for training treats - usually soft yummy smelly food works best. It sometimes may not be the healthiest thing for your dog, but you have to balance nutrition and getting the desired effect from a treat reward.

Anyway, you can use cut up raw hot dogs, cut up pieces of cooked chicken, cheese, natural balance roll (a type of dog food that comes in a sausage-like tube - I haven't heard of many people feeding it for meals but lots use it for training treats), deli meat, etc.

I haven't had much luck with store bought treats for training - they are usually too hard/crunchy. Both my dogs like Bil Jac treats so we use them here and there, but I think corn is one of the top ingredients so we don't use it very often.

Laurelin · 10-12-2008, 12:07 PM

Wellness treats are really fabulous for training. They're soft so you can break them up, and they're high quality, and the dogs seem to love them. There's lots of flavors to choose from to, so we rotate them. They've loved all of them we've tried so far.

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_w...ats_index.html

We use Wellbites and Pure Rewards. They seem to prefer the Wellbites taste wise, but it contains grains. Pure Rewards is grain free.

TN_LAB · 10-12-2008, 12:20 PM

I've heard of folks using kibble flavored by hot dogs.

Put a few pieces of hot dog in a zip bag with some of your dog's kibble and microwave it for a little bit (might even want to store overnight). Finally, remove the hot dog and use just the kibble (or use both the kibble and the hot dog).

I often make up a bag of dog trail mix using frozen peas, kibble, hot dogs, store bought treats, cooked chicken, etc.

I think the key is to make them very small so the dog doesn't have to waste time chewing them up.

railNtrailcowgrl · 10-12-2008, 12:20 PM

Zukes is another great treat, good ingredients and made in the USA. Just do a search and you'll find their website, when you get there they have a store locator, or there are lots of places online that sell them too. Pebbles LOVES the salmon training bites, they are a little smelly but they are like doggy crack for her. I also am trying out a Red Barn food roll that we won in obedience class last week, so far she really likes those as well, they are similar to NB rolls.

rosemaryninja · 10-12-2008, 11:33 PM

I use mainly human food for treats. It's so much cheaper. A bag of about 15 Wellness treats is $16 for me. A chicken breast is only $3 and I can cut it up into almost 30 pieces. I use hot dogs, roasted chicken, cheese, carrots, apples, peanut butter, turkey, beef jerky, liver, peas and frozen banana. These are all easy to prepare, extremely affordable and many are considered very high-value treats.

Texas-Girl · 10-13-2008, 06:42 AM

Great ideas...thanks, everyone!

Falkon · 10-13-2008, 10:37 AM

For dry treats, the Innova Evo treats aren't very expensive. Else, dogs really like turkey or a little cheese.

gale · 10-14-2008, 03:31 AM

We use plato jerky treats. It's easy to break into small pieces.

jbray01 · 10-14-2008, 10:22 AM

i use these things i pick up at petsmart called training rewards. while they are probably not the healthiest for her, she loves them.

if you are looking for something healthier, i would recommend finding a nearby holistic pet foods store and asking someone for help there... they are usually pretty knowledgeable and can help you tailor a specific treat to your dog.

i usually go with what rosie likes. a lot of the time if i'm too lazy to go get the back of treats, ill just stick my finger in the peanut butter jar and let her go at it..hahah

LucyGoosy · 10-14-2008, 12:29 PM

I've tried a lot of the pet store type treats. But, my dogs' favorite treat is liver baked in the oven, pat off the slimy stuff with paper towels and cut it up into small chunks. Cheap, easy to prepare, and seems easy on their GI system. They LOVE it.

I also feed Innova dog food (green bag adult no the Evo--I'm just scared of the extra protein in the Evo--that's just me) and they do GREAT on it. No GI upsets and they looks absolutely terrific. Everybody comments on their coats, eyes, and general attitude. It's great food.

JohnnyBandit · 10-14-2008, 10:36 PM

I use beef heart.......

Take a beef heart cut it in strips and put it on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 300 degrees..... Cook about an hour or so..... Then turn off the oven. Leave door closed and let it cool. This dries it out but does not make it crunchy. I then rinse it and pat dry removing most of the grease. I cut it in small pieces (about the size of an english pea) Dogs love them and its good lean protien and full of nutrients.

poodleholic · 10-15-2008, 07:09 AM

Think in terms of basic treats, high-value treats, and you-rock treats! LOL I like Natural Balance food rolls for basic training because you slice and dice it yourself, and can make them as small, or large, as you like. It's fairly inexpensive, and not messy. For high-value treats it's dehydrated lung, and you-rock-good-dog treats, it's Boarshead chicken, the golden classic (not smoked).

Texas-Girl · 10-15-2008, 07:16 AM

"You rock" treats...ROFL..I like that!

Thanks for the morning chuckle, Poodleholic!

mosbysmom · 10-15-2008, 01:50 PM

I've always used baby carrot sticks for Mosby for training, or I break up his regular treats to be really small so he thinks he is getting more than he really is.

Joanna · 10-16-2008, 12:01 AM

I use mostly food rolls, supplimented with Charlee Bear dry treats, diced hard-boiled eggs, and occasionaly chicken and beef (cooked). My husky also gets diced apples and carrots.

Lonewolfblue · 10-17-2008, 01:12 AM

I found these training treats to be very good. All 3 of my dogs love them.....

http://www.petco.com/product/103977/...-for-Dogs.aspx

There's also Great Bait, which can be ordered online or found at most any dog shows....

http://www.greatbait.com/

japhyr · 10-17-2008, 02:36 AM

Yummy Chummies are great! A guy up near Anchorage started using the spawning salmon that people can't eat, to make dog food. The pieces are about one inch square. A 2.5 pound bag here was about $15. In a month we have barely gone through 1/8 of the bag, using them every day. We cut each square into 9 pieces, about the size of a tic tac. Willie loves them, and I keep a stash in my back pocket at all times. They are perfect for training. Anyone else use them?