What do you guys do with raw fed dogs when it comes to food rewards? Are kosher/beef hotdogs okay? The dog in question is a 6 year old mutt that is raw fed with a very sensitive system. Currently eating pork meat, lamb RMB and preference THK. The dog is thriving on this combination but the owner wants to use treats for training instead of a toy. He's been giving the dog croutons as treats, but she (the dog) doesn't actually WORK for them because they're bland, boring, and an every day treat.

He has tried Zukes, but she had explosive butt syndrome eating a handful a few hours after training and it took her two days to settle out normal again. I can't recall the flavor he was using.

Cooked pork or lamb perhaps?

I use Zuke's mini-naturals. Maybe find out what flavor gave him the trouble? I know they have chicken, peanut butter and salmon. Maybe one of the other flavors will be ok.

For high value food rewards I like cooked, cubed up chicken meat so I can put it in my treat pouch (as opposed to raw chicken in my treat pouch!). Also chicken hot dogs when I can find them at Costco since they are lower in sodium and nitrate free. You can chop them up into really small pieces.

One of my dogs who is very picky eater loves the Merrick Lamb Training Treats. The only ingredient is lamb lung, they are a hard treat but still have a bit of a soft texture and can be broken up to very small size easily. She goes absolutely crazy for these for some reason.

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

she (the dog) doesn't actually WORK for them because they're bland, boring, and an every day treat.

yep. "Treats" have to be just that--a treat. For dogs, that means strong-smelling or strong tasting.

But I don't limit treats to just meat things, even though my pack is raw fed. Keep the training treats small, and they shouldn't be that big of a dietary impact. Hot dogs would be fine. Or cheese. Or anything at all the dog WILL work for and doesn't cause digestive issues. Bits of cooked meat. Cheese puffs. Candy corn.

A mixed treat bag will probably be more interesting to the dog. A few pieces of leftover bacon in the treat bag would even make cheerios exciting.

A note about hot dogs. My dogs personally love them and I have no problem using them as treats. However, I hate how greasy they make my hands. What I do is cut them into the size treats I want (I usually quarter a hot dog lengthwise, then cut the strips into 1/4 inch or so pieces). Then I microwave them, about 30 seconds at a time, checking on them until they are very well done but short of burned. I then blot them thoroughly on paper towels. This cuts way down on the greasiness.

And you asked about kosher/beef hot dogs. If the dog is currently eating pork, why not hot dogs made with pork? Most of the hot dogs I see are made with some combination of pork, beef, and/or chicken. As long as the dog doesn't have any sensitivity to any of those ingredients, it should be fine. Also, because of his sensitivity issues, they may want to use the uncured type of hot dogs without preservatives.

He says she seems to have a sensitivity to chicken. Said her poo didn't look quiet right, but the pork poo looks fantastic (I've seen it, and I was jealous).

That doesn't mean we can't cook up some pork and cube it. I'll run all of this by him and also clarify what flavor of Zukes she was eating. I know my own dog (River) can't eat anything with peanut butter in it or else she's sick for days.

Ahh .... the old dog-poop-comparison envy ....

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

He has tried Zukes, but she had explosive butt syndrome eating a handful a few hours after training and it took her two days to settle out normal again. I can't recall the flavor he was using.

I can't believe I didn't read the first post before I replied above to a poop comment.

I keep Zuke's Minis http://leerburg.com/1078.htm on hand, always, but also these:
http://leerburg.com/1141.htm

The reason I keep both is partly variety, but also a big part is having them for a dog who gets diarrhea with too many Zuke's . I guess it's the amount of boneless meat (or salmon) in a sensitive-gut dog. (I also have a dog who reacts with diarrhea any time I don't have enough calcium -- bone -- in the supper bowl.)

The Soft Training Treats have zillions in that can. I think I read that it's over 600 per can. I get all but the peanut butter.

The first ingredient is oats, where in the Zuke's it's meat/fish/etc. So someone at our club told me a few years back that he gets them for his one dog who is prone to diarrhea, and he puts a piece of hot dog or salmon skin or other odorous morsel in with them in his bait bag to smell them up.

My dogs love them without that, but I can totally see adding oomph for a less foody dog (or just to change them up).



ETA
I forgot to add how cheap they are. I always add a can or two to a LB order.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/23/2013 05:01 PM)
Edit reason: ETA

i make my own....my sister cook them
We have 2 recepies; a soft brownie type of liver and spleen and some crunchy ones from diffeents flavors....if you like i can post you the recepie