Treats

[DuchessDarty]

Talk to me about treats please!

My 10.5 week old puppy seems quite particular about treats. She will eat a new type for a day or two and then go off them. She now refuses the one calorie kibble type snacks I bought a pack off, the fancy dried cod rolls, and the other expensive pack of treats I bought her. She does like the dried chicken swivel sticks but she can only have one of those a day so I don't use that for training. I've changed to using some of her dried normal food for training and giving it to by hand, and giving less in her bowl at mealtime. She went berserk when DH cooked a roast chicken the other week and she really enjoyed having slivers of the meat. There was a bowl of leftovers from that in the fridge which I was taking bits from for treats for DartyPup, but then DH went and ate it

We need to practice walking to heel and I'd like an easy-to-give treat to reward this. Her food is a bit too small and fiddly to give to her easily while walking. Any recommendations? I've seen dried sprats suggested on this board - haven't come across them yet but I'll look out for them.

Also, what do you consider 'high value' treats as opposed to every day treats?

[Nesssie]

sausages - if you cut a sausage length ways into quarters and then chop down the length you can get loads of tiny pieces out of one.
or grated cheese

these are what I used for training/agility as 'high value' treats.

[BiteyShark]

When practicing recall as a puppy we used high value treats such as cheese and sausages (webbox do hot dog sausages).

Now we just use these as he absolutely loves them and I can feed them to him like sweets https://www.millieswolfheart.co.uk/dog-treats/training-treats/turkey-training-treats

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Our dog will eat anything. But his absolute favourite, which is now saved for recall, is primula. I get the tube one and he gets a lick of it straight from the tube.
Also the other tiny treats all get mixed up along with some kibble and a few bits of cheese or doggy hot dog. Think the mixture makes them all taste better. He never knows what he will get then too

[DuchessDarty]

Thank you all! I did give her bits of sausage from our dinner last night actually (after we'd finished and as a training treat).

Embarrassed to ask but just to be sure, you do mean cooked sausage, don't you?

I have some squeezey Kong cheese for her Kong but again she ate it once and not the second, and isn't that bothered in her Kong.

Hadn't thought of grated cheese, cheers, will give it a try. And those turkey training treats look good Bitey, I'll be buying those.

[DuchessDarty]

Also meant to add, I'll get a tube of primula. I like the idea of having something in a tube, sounds practical.

[BiteyShark]

I only fed 'dog' specific hot dog sausages like these https://www.webbox.co.uk/products/dog/treats/webbox-hot-dog-sausages-dog-treats

Normal sausages, even the high quality pork ones, upset BiteyDogs stomach. I think because they tended to contain lots of other stuff like pepper.

[BiteyShark]

Hmm those webbox ones say not suitable for under 4 months of age

[LKRJM]

Agree with sausages or squeeze cheese, but as she’s only a puppy I wouldn’t be feeding her too much of any of what you’ve mentioned and would also be cautious that continuing to change it when she gets bored or goes off it will mean she will do this over because she knows you will change it - dogs are so bloody clever!

Good luck OP X

[adaline]

Just plain human food - chicken, cheese, ham or sausages.

We have a beagle and the only things he will recall for are cooked meat (just the sliced stuff you get for sandwiches) or cocktail sausages! Dog treats just don't hold the same interest for him.

I also think lots of manufactured treats are far too strong for such young stomachs and can cause a lot of upset if the pup isn't used to them. Plain chicken is good for them and, unless they have allergies to it, shouldn't cause any issues.

[DuchessDarty]

Good points, thank you all. She loved the plain cooked chicken so I will do some of that for her at some point. In the meantime, I'll be using up the treats we have (sparingly) and continuing with using her dog food for training by siphoning off some of the portion from her three measured meals a day.

[Flibbertyjibbit]

Homemade chicken jerky is really easy and cheap. We bought chicken breasts from Lidl. Then sliced them very very thinly. Lay on grill rack then cook in oven for an hour or 2 until completely dried out. I usually leave them in oven overnight to dry out even more. Then you can snap them into small bits so 2 chicken breasts last a good fortnight. No additives, just pure chicken. My pup loves it and its fab for training. I kept a few strip's not broken up to use for walking to heal on lead.

[DuchessDarty]

OOh excellent suggestion and recipe, thank you Flibbertyjibbit!

[IHeartArya]

Chicken, salmon, and this for ease

www.naturesmenu.co.uk/real-meaty-treats-beef-983?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_r3nBRDxARIsAJljleHR37KiLN4iA89bxwOi_XkULA_NcpDvs_ygred5NiLmIMnytYn3DOEaAi3NEALw_wcB