Tasty Treats?

[Kelly and Daphne]

Hello Everyone!  It appears that most dog experts agree that using to treats to motivate and reward good behavior is an effective method.  Makes sense to me.  I am certainly motivated by treats. :)  Unfortunately my 17 week puppy isn't.  We just brought her home 2 days ago.  So, I am wondering if she is still a little out of sorts and will warm up to treats after she gets settled.  However, she seems to be adjusting well, loves to play, cudddle.  We have tried Old Mother Hubbard and Beef Tripe treats.  Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance for your help!

[Bonnie and Kona]

I would not be surprised if she is just adjusting to her new surroundings. Give her another day or so to acclimate and you may be surprised how much she enjoys treats. Have a wonderful time with your new doodle!

[Adina P]

It's very likely an adjustment thing. Give her a couple of weeks.

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

I've had success with the Zuke's training treats. They are small and moist. I've also used Cheerios and small pieces of hot dogs and cheese. I wouldn't worry. I imagine your pup is still adjusting to her new surroundings. Since she's already four months old, it might take her a little longer to adjust than an eight week old puppy. Also, I think some dogs are more play oriented than food oriented. Barley would rather play than eat, so your pup might be similar. Your rewards don't have to be food; anything the pup likes can motivate her, like a quick game of tug, fetch, or chase.

[Steve Drury]

We have two doodles. The older one has never been interested in food. When we're doing training it is difficult finding treats that motivate her. Interestingly, like another person mentioned, she loves cheerios though.

The younger one would sell her sister for a bite of hot dog. She is HIGHLY motivated by anything edible. She was so easy as a puppy she considered kibble a treat. We could train her with bits of kibble all day and she'd never get tired of it.

Now she knows better. But break out any kind of treat and she'll be on her best behavior.

[Carol]

I was told, although this is not my experience, that some dogs are motivated by toys and/or pets/hugs/attention. I'm not discounting the other advice you've received about her needing to adjust but that may be another thing to consider.

[Kelly and Daphne]

Thank you for all the great advice!  I would have never of thought of cheerios.  I am going to give them and cheese a try.  If not, I will continue to give her plenty of hugs.  The good thing is that they are free and fun for me!

[Lori]

Charlee Bear treats from Trader Joes...they are like $4 a bag & there are a LOT of them. I have seen them in "Gourmet Dog Stores" for up to $11 - for the SAME product. Anyway hang in there...Doodles RULE ; )

[Denis]

Our trainer used treats, and Hogan certainly obeyed her better than he obeyed us until we began using treats too!  His favorites are the soft chewy training treats.  We rotate flavors - he loves them all.  Try Cloud Star's "Buddy Biscuits" or "Tricky Trainers" - we have duck, chedder and grilled beef on hand right now.  We also have Zuke's "Mini Naturals" Salmon flavor.  We get those from "Bentley's Corner Barkery" in Arlington Heights.  They're very focused on healthy food.  Hogan also loves a chicken liver treat my mother gave us, but I can't stand the smell!  I made the mistake of putting several in my coat pocket for a walk....ugh.  Hogan's favorite are chicken breast training treats we buy when we're at the vet....but we're out right now and I don't have a bag around to check the brand for you.

 

Our trainer suggested we use a special WOW treat as a reward for his obeying the "come" command, but we've fallen in the habit of using these tasty treats for walks as well.  He "heels" much better knowing he'll get an occasional "good boy" treat for walking alongside without pulling, and he crosses streets safely knowing a treat awaits on the other side if he uses good manners.  He also likes the hard (not chewy) treats such as hot dog training treats and various biscuits, but they crumble up in our pockets too much so we've moved more toward the chewy treats he likes best anyway.

 

Our trainer claims that someday Hogan will obey out of affection, and not because he expects a treat.....yeah....we'll see about that!

 

He also loves string cheese, which the trainer recommended.  Unfortunately, so do I so the cheese doesn't last in the house as long as bags labeled for dogs! 

 

When we want him to enjoy a treat that will last awhile so we can eat dinner etc, we'll often put peanut butter in a small bone (our trainer gave it to us - be careful about what bones you give dogs!).  We first had tried the "Kong Balls" sold at Petsmart - I can't recommend them.  The first one was so small we worried Hogan would swallow it, and the next larger size doesn't hold peanut butter well....it just creates a goopy mess that he likes more than we do.  

 

He also loves the Yaks milk Himalayan dog chews.  They last forever!  Cow ears last quite awhile and he loves to chew them.  He also likes the antlers, but really wants us to hold him in our lap and hold the antler for him to chew, so that doesn't work for our meal times.  

 

Hogan also loves virtually all of the animal bits sold at The Barkery, but he can gobble most up pretty quickly.  Favorites include chicken and ducks feet and thoraxes and lambs ears.  He loves "bully sticks" but once my teenage sons learned what a "bully stick" is, they absolutely refuse to allow them in the house, much less watch Hogan eat one!  Many of these treats are fatty, so use them only occasionally! 

[Lynda Kamrath]

If your puppy is seventeen weeks old and has not had treats offered to her, then she may not be interested at this time.  That is fine, just let her adjust to other changes in your home.  Actually I have a human son who had never warmed up to sweet treats or anything with milk.  He was lactose intolerant as a child and was a rather natural vegetarian.  He does eat meat now, but never desserts or ice cream.  He has always said that ice cream is the worst.  It tastes like lard in his mouth.  So I learned not to argue.  My second doodle is also not very interested in treats.  He smells them thoroughly and then takes it carefully into his mouth.  Sometimes he spits them out.  My puppy, however, loves any kind of treat and eagerly takes whatever he can get.  Depends on the dog, I guess (or the kid).

[Kelly and Daphne]

I am happy to report that Daphne has snapped out of it and now loves treats!  It sure does make training so much easier.  Thank you for the great advice and words of encouragement. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh happy day! Glad you are having fun together spoiling her. ;o)

[Livia Free]

When we got our puppy, she wasn't too crazy about Old Mother Hubbard treats either. She kind of grew into those. She's still not too crazy about them at 4 months. But, she would do anything for a piece of hotdog. We would cut them into teeny tiny pieces, like almost invisible. We sliced of a couple of circles and then chop those up into a bunch of super tiny pieces.