Treats

I'm often asked about the "best" treats to give your dog while training. "Best" can mean quite a few things. There are some very good and tasty treats that are great if you can afford them:

Blue bits

Nature's Recipe

Wellness WellBites

...among others. However, most of us cannot afford these delicacies on a consistent basis. There are some alternatives that are healthy and affordable for anyone. Here are some of my favorites:

1) Chicken - Frozen chicken breast patties cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces. (All natural recommended)

2) Steak - hamburger steak cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces. (about $3.00/lb)

3) Vital or Pet Botanics dog food. These make excellent treats for training when chopped into bite-sized pieces.

4) Hot Dogs - Hot Dogs are a great treat for training provided that you fully cook them (microwave recommended) and cut LENGTHWISE into bite-sized pieces. (round pieces can cause choking!)

5) Apples - Apples are a great healthy treat for dogs. However, you must avoid giving too much (which can cause diarrhea) and NEVER give the seeds (which are poisonous)

6) Kibble - For dogs that are extremely food motovated, try giving a different brand of kibble as a healthy treat. You can even replace a meal with training time!

7) Cheerios - Some dogs go positively batty for Cheerios! If you are fortunate enough to own one of these dogs, take advantage. The low sugar and high fiber make this a great inexpensive treat.

7) Homemade treats - Nothing tells your prize pooch "I love you" more than homemade treats!

8) Cheese - small bites of cheese can motivate almost any dog!

*For my students - I recommend bringing about 200 treats per dog to class with you.