Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: rob abel
I need some more variation in my food rewards. Have heard of all kinds of creative foods used, from cheese popcorn to vienna sausages.
What are you folks using when you train with food? What works best for your dog(s)?
Because dogs are pretty individual on this subject, I started carrying a mixed bag to sessions with other folks' dogs.
But then I discovered (lazy me, grabbing the "other" dogs' bait bag for my own dogs' sessions) that the mixed bag fostered a great slot-machine POV in my own dogs!
I mix leftovers (cut small) like salmon skin, the tiny treats from here: http://leerburg.com/treat.htm , bits of cheese, the end from a deli salami thingy, diced small, and so on. One of mine loves cooked broccoli, so I set that aside in his baggie.
Jamie Craig Webboard User Reg: 09-01-2009
Posts: 986
Loc: Munroe Falls, OH
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his frisbee....
though he also likes carrots (but savors them to long to be useful) and these god aweful Walmart bought things called Canine Carry-Outs that dye is poop funny colors...but of course they're the most high value treat after the frisbee so...ew...
Freeze dried liver, low fat string cheese cut into small sections, raw beef (I use this one primarily at home so I can wash up easily - but he loovvvvessss it), and with head hanging in shame, Pupperonni cut into tiny pieces. (His one junk food allotment...)
Tracy Collins Webboard User Reg: 10-09-2008
Posts: 1917
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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Our go-to treats are string cheese (indivisually wrapped and easy to bite off pieces during training) and--believe it or not--cat food kibbles. Cat food pieces are really tiny (which is a good thing in my book, and they are strongly flavored. And cheap.
If I had a way to carry ice cubes in my pocket to agility class that would probably work better than anything. But until I rig up a refrigerated treat pouch, ice cubes remain an at-home delicacy.
My dog loves those canine carryout things, too. We call them Play-Doh treats, as they have that smell and consistency.
Here's an ancillary question. Somehow I've turned the formal recall into a hand touch game, and have been told to go back to the beginning and spit treats at my dog to get him focused on my face rather than hands. Frankly, I am a terrible spitter. I have no aim and no velocity, and I haven't come up with anything better than string cheese and Slim Jims. I'm really love some better ideas. (I'm not putting Play-Doh treats in my mouth, thankyouverymuch.)
Anne Jones Webboard User Reg: 04-29-2004
Posts: 3825
Loc: Northeast
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For food rewards in training new behaviors I use all different flavors of zukes minis & turkey hot dogs cut in very tiny pieces. Basically they will work for whatever I have in my hand, but the above are their real favorites. I generally transition from food rewards to balls on most behaviors once the foundation is formed.
Lynne Barrows Webboard User Reg: 09-22-2007
Posts: 2531
Loc: S. Florida
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I like string cheese, too. Mostly I like to use leftover protein sources from the night before like bits of grilled chicken breast or steak or pork. Meatloaf is a favorite, but depends on if it holds together well. Another thing she likes are blueberries...
I do use hotdogs but try to limit to once every two weeks or so because of the sodium and nitrate content.
I cut up enough treats to last for a couple of days and keep the treat bag in the fridge...
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