What kind of treats?
Hello,
So my husband and I have nine week old corgi (Chips). In two weeks we are starting puppy training classes. The trainer wants us to bring some good motivators (treats, toys etc) to class. She recommended cut up hot dogs and other soft treats. This is our first puppy and training class so I was wondering if any of you have good recommendations or advise regarding puppy treats for class or just advise in general before we start class.
So my husband and I have nine week old corgi (Chips). In two weeks we are starting puppy training classes. The trainer wants us to bring some good motivators (treats, toys etc) to class. She recommended cut up hot dogs and other soft treats. This is our first puppy and training class so I was wondering if any of you have good recommendations or advise regarding puppy treats for class or just advise in general before we start class.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sky and Lyla on
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I have never tried hot dogs, but I understand they work great. They are probably a pretty cheap compared to many treats. I buy dog treats, but I am very picky about what my dogs eat and they do not ever get anything with corn. My absolute favorite training treats are The Loved Dog treats. You can go to this website (http://www.freshpet.com/theloveddogtreats/) to get information on them and find out where to buy them. They look like little sausages and contain a fair amount of real meat, so even my dog who is not food motivated really loves them, and they are actually pretty healthy. These are the treats I use for my obedience and agility training for my Aussie, and boy does he love to work for them! For a "less special" treat I like Zuke's Naturals or Mini-Naturals (the mini is PERFECT for training, and I even cut the little pieces into about 3-4 smaller pieces so they last forever; http://www.zukes.com/woof/mini-naturals.html).
When training, it is important to remember to start learning a concept with a really special treat. Especially during class, it is hard for a young puppy to pay attention with so much going on, so find a treat he LOVES and only use it during class and when first learning something. Once he starts to understand the concept, switch to a still good, but not as special treat. Save those special treats for a really good reward.
I love doing puppy classes with my pups. Just remember to stay calm and not get frustrated. This is for fun and he will learn better if you don't put a lot of pressure on him. Have fun!!
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Permalink Reply by Nicole, Stanley and STELLA! on
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I just started taking Stella to puppy kindergarten and was wondering the same thing. When I went to the first session, the trainer said that she cuts up beef hot dogs and puts them in a bag with their food, and then the food acquires the smell and taste of the hot dogs. I think that's a good idea, since you don't want to feed him too much hot dog itself during the class, and his system is already used to his food. I haven't tried it yet, but Stella is SO food motivated that anything works! She actually does well with just her plain dog food! I mix some pieces of milkbone, and some small beef treats from Hill's science diet. I'm happy that you started this post because I'll get some ideas, too! I'm already going to try the Loved Dog treats that Sky and Lyla mentioned. Good luck with class!
Nicole
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Permalink Reply by Aj on
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Ein recommends Charlee Bear treats! http://www.charleebear.com/
He's enjoying the cranberry & turkey liver kind.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle and Vesper on
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ooh, fancy flavors! I've only seen the plain liver flavor, and Vesper LOVES them! I love that I can carry them in a pocket without getting crumbs/slimey stuff everywhere.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Charlie Bear are great low-calorie treats. There are also some good liver treats out there without sugar or dyes, but liver treats made Jack exude the smell of liver from every pore, the way some people do after they eat garlic. Yuck!
Personally, I save high-value treats like hot-dogs (in my case, I use bits of cheese) for the oh-wow-you-did-it!! moment; the time the dog actually does the command correctly without any lures or guiding. For shaping behavior, I use the lower-value treats (like Charlie Bear). Then when the dog does it absolutely correctly, and not just sort-of-right, he gets a high-value treat. I also would use a high-value treat at the end of a session where we worked hard. If he's not getting the command I'm working on, I'll go back and finish with one he knows well, so he always ends on a positive note.
If your puppy is easily distracted, you might need to use the high-value treats just to teach Chips to pay attention to you. Something with a strong odor works the best (cheese, hot-dogs, liver treats). Just cut them up very small. Alternate them with other treats, though. Putting them all in the same bag is a good idea, so the other treats pick up the scent. You can also use very small amounts of cut up baby raw carrots or Cheerios. Don't give too many of either as they can cause loose stools. Experiment with what treats your pup likes before you actually go to the class. Keep in mind that you might have the opposite problem with high-value treats if your dog is very food-motivated: some dogs are so distracted by the treat that they fail to pay attention to you at all and just stare and drool. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Juanita Wiltbank on
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This is a great idea. I think chips will respond to this quite well. Great Idea!
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We're just about done with puppy kindergarten and it took us awhile to find a treat that was corgi-sized and digestible. Our favorite treats are Bil-Jac Small Dog Training Treats. They're nothing fancy- you can find them at just about any pet store. Vesper loves the flavor, and we like them because they are high in protein, low in fat, and don't seem to give her indigestion and soft stools like a lot of soft treats.
For training at home, we use "Charlie Crackers." They're basically 3-calorie liver-flavored oyster crackers, but she loves them and we don't feel like we're stuffing the dog while training.
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Permalink Reply by Stanley & Charlotte on
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I like Natural Balance food rolls. They can be found at Petco. Here's the website http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/DFRolls.html
You can chop them up into small bite size pieces and Stanley just loves 'em. The make different flavors and you can get a small one for like two bucks or something. Just know, the roll needs to be kept in the fridge after opening.
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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I don't know if I'd use hot dogs, they contain so much stuff that's not good for your dog (or you, for that matter), and they have tooons of salt in them (also not good). A trainer in a class I took with my first dog a long time ago used dried liver treats, which you can buy by the bucket at Petco for $25ish. The dogs love them, but they have tons of calories in them as well. I would imagine they would be fine in moderation, like for very short training sessions.
My vote goes for Charlee Bears -- Dax looooooves them! They look like little pumpkin seeds. 3 calories per treat, and they're pretty cheap. I pay about $5.50 for a big bag of them, they last a while. Good luck in class!
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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on
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Another vote for Charlee Bears! Trader Joes sells the big bag for $2.99! Can't beat that, and SIdney thinks they are the BEST!
And since they are so small, no need to cut them up into little bits, they are the perfect raining size. And they travel well in pockets too. :)
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Yeah Chips really enjoys Charlee Bears!
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