Your favorite high value treats?

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Riley LOVES her kibble but she is really not super motivated by any treats we've tried.  We really haven't tried that many (just pure bites chicken and Zuke's minis, right now using a different Fromm kibble as treats) but we need a couple different types of high value treats for some specific training we'd like to do.

Riley has some stranger anxiety (barks incessantly at visitors, even small children) so we are trying to make it very enticing for her to calm down and relax when we've already told her visitors are welcome.  We have started having visitors give her treats which works sometimes but often it doesn't, so I'm wondering if a higher value treat might help.

She is also anxious at grooming time lately so I want to have a special type of treat that she only gets when she is being groomed.

I thought the Zuke's would be good because they are super smelly and soft but she really doesn't like them any more than just a piece of kibble.  Maybe they are too small for her to get a good taste?  I don't know.

Any suggestions?  Maybe I should just use plain cooked chicken breast or something for the grooming since it's pretty frequent and I can keep some in the fridge?  Visitors I can usually predict when they will be coming too so not always, so it would probably be better to have something stored.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep, the Merrick lamb lung is like doggy crack. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So now I see that Pure Bites is supposedly freeze-dried, not dehydrated like I thought. 

But there really is a difference between Pure Bites liver treats and Stewart's. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Stewart's even retain a little bit "greasier" feel. And definitely have more aroma. And they don't crumble easily like Pure Bites do. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I really hate the crumbliness of the pure bites.  

No Stewart's at the petsmart here, just Richmond Valley Farms ones that look a lot like pure bites

https://www.petsmart.ca/dog/treats/biscuits-and-bakery/richmond-val...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Maybe try the small bag and see if she likes it better. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Well, she seems to like the cheese more than the hot dogs after today's taste testing :p  Maybe cheese is the answer, we always have it around.

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

Just boil some chicken or sautee in a little bit of olive oil. Or any other meat. Cut in little cubes. I use that for agility and my dogs are very motivated. Also Trader Joe's turkey meatballs (freezer isle). Defrost and cut or tear into little pieces. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Thanks I might try that instead of hot dogs...tried one today and it was so greasy when cut into little pieces.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's my problem with hot dogs. So greasy. 

[Stacy]

If you microwave the hot dog between two paper towels for a while - after you cut it up, they eventually turn into a kind of hot dog jerky. They are less greasy that way. It may still not be the right treat for you, but it's an idea. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

It's partly the brand.  The Kirkland ones are way greasier than the other ones we have (Schneiders or Top Dogs), I'm not even sure that jerky thing would work with them.  

Probably easier to just stick with cheese or chicken.

[Kathy and Ruby Skye]

I second the chicken recommendation. I simmer a chicken breast then cut it up into very small cubes and bits and store it in the freezer. I take some out as needed to defrost, mostly when she gets a shot, and Ruby comes running for it. She doesn’t even care that she’s getting a shot any more as long as she gets her chicken as a treat afterwards. It’s her crack treat and not too messy to handle.  Good luck!