Hello,

I need some suggestions on some high value dog treats that other's may use when doing training and engagement? Currently, I've been using this human grade dog food that petco sells, kinda looks like a big sausage, and also I use dog kibble. Just looking for alternatives that others use.

These are some that I think are high value treats, boiled chicken, cheese, steak, hotdogs,carrots (if you have a dog that really likes veggies)

try warming some of that Roll type treat up or chicken, in the microwave for a few seconds.

Warming them up sometimes makes them more appealing.

i don't mean hot, i mean just warm.

I thought about hot dogs, just regular hot dogs?

Lunch meat of all kinds. Gotta watch your fingers, though.

 Quote: Kevin Wasilonsky

I thought about hot dogs, just regular hot dogs?

I use hotdogs occasionally, but they are usually pretty high in sodium, so I limit them in the treat rotation.

I like to use whatever protein source I ate the night before. Chicken, steak, pork cut into treat-sized pieces all work great. Meatloaf and hamburger are favorites as well. I keep the treat bag in the fridge, so the leftovers get cut up and put right in the bag so they are ready to go. Cheese rounds cut from cheese sticks are in the rotation, too.

I also like to toss in the large blueberries when in season.

PS, what a lovely pup you have!

Hot dogs. I cut them in not-quite-half-inch slices, then quarter those, then I put them in the microwave in 30-second increments (you could also put them in the oven on a baking sheet) until they are dried to the consistency I like, then blot them on paper towels. Helps cut down on the grease on your hands.

Cheese sticks, again, cut into quarter-to-half-inch slices, and quartered. The size of the treats is mainly a matter of preference, but for training, the smallest you can get away with is best. Think pencil-eraser size.

In fact, the soft Paws Gourmet treats and the Zuke's mini-naturals are almost exactly pencil-eraser size. My dogs like those and I do use them, but I wouldn't consider them really high-value.

I also use leftover meats of all kinds. Could be steak, pork tenderloin, chicken, again, cut into bite-size pieces. As far as chicken, I don't like how the white meat will often crumble in my hands, so what I have been doing is buying what they call chicken breast tenderloins (a misnomer, since that is not the tenderloin of a chicken!), then I bake them on low heat until they are very overcooked and dry, almost hard, almost a jerky consistency, then cut them in small pieces. It cuts down drastically on the flaking.

The thing my dogs are the absolute craziest for, though, are Herr's cheese balls (a human snack). They're a little large (maybe acorn-size) so I don't use them a lot, but if my dog is losing focus and I want to get it back, a couple of cheese balls thrown in will do the trick.

eta: Kevin, we were typing at the same time. In answer to your question, I usually use the chicken-based hot dogs as opposed to beef. Yes, hot dogs are high in sodium and fat, and I would use them sparingly. I usually mix several different kinds of treats into my bait bag.

Edited by Cheri Grissom (04/26/2011 08:51 AM)
Edit reason: eta

hot dogs are good.
i would use a chicken or turkey based one.
make sure to keep the pieces small and make sure to keep an eye on wether or not they upset his stomach in anyway.

don't know why, but hot dogs don't sit well with my dog.
even just a few pieces will cause him problems.

But that's just him.

The new favorite in our house is liverwurst, having used all the previously
mentioned items, liverwurst is really high value to my dogs.
As for hot dogs, I really like to look for the ones without nitrates.
Costco sells some that are nitrate free.

The only problem with the liverwurst is it is very soft, but if you freeze it,
you can cut smaller pieces, and it isn't as messy as room temperature.

Liverwurst is a big one for us, too. Its disgusting but dogs love it.