[Horse Rider]

HI :wave:

I was wondering what treats might be healthy, safe, and good to use for training, and the dog I am going to try training belongs to my brother, but the dog does not train with kibble, I have already tried.

So if anyone would like to give me suggestions that would be great! :thumbsup::dog-bone:

Thank you!

 

[Kwenami]

Healthy might be tricky since the best treats are usually not healthy.

But anything torn into really small pieces is good. Steak, hotdogs, ham, cheese, carrot, etc. It's really based on what your dog likes...and training with kibble is just about building up enough rewards and feeding before dinner. It takes some time but isn't unchangeable.

 

[Horse Rider]

Healthy might be tricky since the best treats are usually not healthy.

But anything torn into really small pieces is good. Steak, hotdogs, ham, cheese, carrot, etc. It's really based on what your dog likes...and training with kibble is just about building up enough rewards and feeding before dinner. It takes some time but isn't unchangeable.

Cheese sounds like a really good idea!

Both of the dogs at my house love cheese, now would there be any specific types of cheese that are bad?

 

[Kwenami]

Cheese sounds like a really good idea!

Both of the dogs at my house love cheese, now would there be any specific types of cheese that are bad?

All cheese isn't great-definitely a 'use in moderation' type of thing. I cut my pieces up to be about 0.5 cm cubed type of volume, and use it sparingly. You can just find a combination of what works.

 

[PollyLengi]

I used to cut up hot dogs into small pieces. It was cheap and easy to swallow. My girls loved it.

 

[Horse Rider]

The thing is, we don't buy hot dogs that often :/

 

[agility collie mom]

String cheese, meatballs, liverwurst, hot dogs, tripe, anything that is stinky. The key is tiny pieces. Whatever you use to train with should only be for training it keeps the dogs interest keen.

 

[Horse Rider]

What do you guys think about DentaStix?

 

[agility collie mom]

As treats for training takes too long to consume. You want tidbits that are eaten readily.

 

[Horse Rider]

As treats for training takes too long to consume. You want tidbits that are eaten readily.

Hmm, that's true, thank

She currently has a few DentaStix, only because she eats purina and sometimes they include treats to advertise.

 

[agility collie mom]

I have used dentastix with my little ones. Collies get nyla bones and on occasion greenies. Perio support powder on every meal.Amazon.com : Perio-Support for Dogs and Cats, Powder 4.2 oz. : Pet Herbal Supplements : Pet Supplies

 

[Rivonia]

Beef hearts and tongues, seriously. It's cheap, good quality meat. You might need to put in a special order with your butcher. Cut them up into large pieces, cook for about an hour and only then cut them into small cubes, much easier.

The dogs go nuts for the meat and you can safely feed a lot of it at a rather small price.

 

[annageckos]

I used cooked meats for recall training, it's a very special treat. Otherwise I use cheese, hotdogs, liverwurst(yuck), zuke's training treats, beef jerky, dehydrated liver, snow. Yes, I've actually used snow. Freyja got so excited when she figured out what that white stuff was all about that she ran to the end of her long line and instead of getting hurt I let go of the leash. She was so distracted running back and forth she wouldn't listen. So I grabbed a snow ball and held it up calling her. She ran right back to me and sat. I know using snow isn't reasonable, I just had to add that because I just remembered it.
But for treats you can use anything the dog likes, cut up into very small pieces. I also like to mix it up.

 

[Jesse1]

I find Purebites liver to be the best treat as it is like crack for dogs and out of over a hundred or so dogs and puppies I only came across a couple that wouldn't take them but that was due to them having serious fear and anxiety issues. Similar to benny bullys but thinner so easier to break into small pieces and both of those are just freeze dried liver. Really though any treat your dog responds to is ok as long as you keep the treats very small

 

[Turtle11]

I use Pet Botanics dog food roll (the chicken flavour is grain free) and lamb jerky. Well, really, anything jerky goes over pretty well...I usually break it up into little pieces for training treats.

When I have some cooked meats, I chop it up into small pieces, and mix it up with his normal dog food in a treat bag. That way, the cooked meat smell is on the dog food too...making his normal dog food a lot more desirable and I can also feed his regular dog food as a 'treat'.

 

[Aspen726]

I use string cheese, hot dogs or Zukes training treats

 

[Artdog]

I use a lot of different things, but because I'm at a stage of using large quantities, I'm buying Rollover and chopping that up into treat sized bits. It's a little crumbly, but Sonic likes it as a treat, and it's a complete dog food, so that's one treat that isn't junk food.

 

[Horse Rider]

I've been using cheese, of course in small quantities, but I actually got my dog to learn lay down

I do have to use a hand gesture, but we are working on the word lay.

 

[Horse Rider]

Sorry! This was a double post.

 

[yvon]

Bacon would work well

Bacon works well. It is going to be different for every dog. I would use different treats even within one training to keep your dog stimulated and surprised. A pleasant variety of 2 or maybe 3 treats so that the reward are worthy and unexpected may give good results. Good luck :thumbsup: