Mumsnet Talk

We started puppy training yesterday and it was a great experience. Only 4 in the class and solely positive training methods used, DH is particular (who grumbled a bit about 'the need' etc) LOVED it and is training the poor puppy like mad despite trainer suggesting just a few minutes 2/3 times a day!

This week we have to work on Sit and Heel but not to expect miracles with the latter as it's hard and they are young and it will take time, to focus on fun and enjoyment etc. There are 4 weeks basics and then we start the KC Bronze award and can work through them, which we fully intend to do as we all enjoyed it so much. No worries with the sit as he does this reliably anyway and lots of excellent tips for heel. I need to find a high value treat though that I can basically feed tons of to Harry though as we train heel work, using a sing song voice and lots of praise and a clicker if desired.

Our best high value treat is liver, we tried cheese last week which he loves but gave him a runny tummy (the FIRST accident in his crate ever at 6.15am yesterday morning, which I feel dreadful about as he did whine to be let out, which he never ever does, but I assumed he was trying it on and ignored him, he stopped after 5 minutes). Both treats are soft though and hard to transport in quantity in apocket or bum bag.

Yesterday, I took some liver in a tub but managing this, gloves, lead, clicker, puppy etc was too much so feed frequently, I can't put liver in my coat pocket or a bum bag so I wondered if others had an alternative suggestion?

Trainer said to steer clear of his usual kibble to make him really work and focus on this behaviour.

Would anyone have any suggestions? I would prefer to steer clear of the shop bought treats tbh.

Thanks.

You did cook the liver and chop it into small bits, didn't you?

That nasty Primula cheese in a tube is my secret weapon of choice
Once the dog recognises the tube you need only give the tiniest, minutest squeeze of cheese or even just a lick of the empty nozzle if you can get away with it
It is easy to carry, extends your arm by about 8 inches (invaluable if, like me, you are faced with a little dog after a lifetime of big dogs!) and is easy for the dog to recognise (I have used it to train rescues with slightly dodgy recall- wave Primula above head, shout loudly and hope )

Little pieces of cooked chicken works for me. It is not smelly and fairly dry.

Yes I confirm that I did cook the liver!!!! It's still pretty soft though unless I bake it hard I suppose but then he would have to stop and chew it all the time, which I find sometimes is an issue with kibble too.

The primula is an inspired suggestion thanks!!!! Great idea for transportation and quantities delivered. He has had cream cheese before without an issue but lumps of cheese seemed to upset his stomach. I shall try it.

Cheese got me through part 1 of dog obedience training

I made liver cake for the first time last night - sort of like a very liverry omelette. Lots of recipes online. Worked very well on this morning's walk and easy to break bits off without getting slimey hands

I use those small ready cooked cocktail sausages to get DDog2 into the car at the end of the walk. He's a big thing, but you could cut them up for a puppy.

Mine will do anything for liver cake. I keep it in a small pouch attached to their leads.

I cut up hot dogs into tiny pieces, or cooked chicken.

I have heard of liver cake (somehow, I wish that I hadn't tbh!). I see myself making this soon I expect, thanks for the suggestion, did your DDog enjoy it Gymummy? I know he loves sausage.

Had forgotten about chicken, which is another favourite and a good option too.

How does the bag on the lead work? Wondering if I can extract treats fast enough.

Had a super family walk through the local woods today, I love my solo walks but family walks are wonderful and special. We met tons of other dogs as it was a lovely day (if cold), including another springer who played mentally with our puppy for ages and the biggest wolfhound I have ever seen, also soft as butter. Our puppy is such a wus that he has yet to offend another dog, just gives off mega submissive signals to all who approach him!!! Had an altercation with a Jrt last week but the owner was fab and they ended up as friends, well sort of, at least enough to not leave a bad experience in his mind anyway. Did then help when my friends vizsla came flying through the fields and bossed the Jrt around, a taste if his own medicine lol!!!!!

Thanks all for taking the time to reply with suggestions, much appreciated.

My dog and cats love liver cake and if you get the consistency right it is dry. Also I freeze it and take it out in small amounts to treat them.

Gymdog loved it Needas. In the grand scheme of dog treats it scored v highly on responsiveness, lack of slimy-ness and lack of additives. You can also cook loads and keep it in packets in the freezer.

I tell you, I'm getting more precious about additives for Gymdog than the kids - he definitely reacts like a toddler on speed if i give him anything with artificial colour <will never buy Lidl dog treats again, very scarred>

I have a friend who knows someone who works for one of the big dog food makers, she has told me a few bits and bobs about Bakers and the like, agree, as natural as poss is the way to go!!! Dog also has a better diet than kids!

Tinned hot dogs chopped up for my Beagle or chopped up slices of cheap ham. I have a treat bag, just put the meat straight in it and turn it inside out when I get home and wipe clean.

Have also put meat in zip lock bags, roll down sides and sit in bum bag, on your front , left open.

Have to watch my Beagle as she jumps up me and snaffles out of open bum bag!

Tinned hot dogs. Or I buy massive boxes of dried sausages cheaply and have always got a few broken up ones shoved in my pocket.

I buy this from my local pet shop. My dog has a sensitive tummy so I have to be careful what he has. He really likes this, and you can have a bar of it in your pocket and break off little bits as you need it.

M&S used to sell jerky for dogs which my dog would do anything for, but then they discontinued it and everything I've seen in there since always has cereals in it.

Thank you for the further suggestions re treats and the wipe clean bag too. I have tinned hotdogs already as i read these were good but haven't used them yet.

Bran - I checked the link, thanks, you remined me that I think there's similar near us that I had forgotten about!

I break little bits off these.
My lot will do anything for them & they don't upset the ones with sensitive digestion.

www.petsathome.com/shop/fishmongers-fish-braids-dog-treat-90gm-27751?cm_re=barilliance-_-up%20sell-_-product%20details

I used to use cheese, hotdog or sausage and Beehiving Hound wasn't interested in dry-ish food but I've started using small pieces of air dried liver made by someone locally to us and he really loves them. They're clean and not smelly so I can distribute them in various pockets without stinking the house out. One of the trainers at our classes uses primula cheese spread (in a tube) which gets squirted out of the tube a little bit at a time and the dog licks it off.

Liver cake and freeze it, take it out and out in poly bag in pocket or bumbag. You can also get treat bags , to clip on your belt or trousers, which are good.

Also make dried liver, by frying liver in garlic and oil, cutting up into tiny bits and then spreading it on a baking tray and putting in an oven for an hour or so, until it dries out. It will keep in a plastic tub.

Vary your treats, use higher value ones for new tasks and don't always reward when the behaviour is established. Random reward is much more effective.

Your class sounds a good one!

We call liver cake doggy crack in this house