Training Treats

[Krista, Angel, and Toby]

So I was at Petco yesterday, getting odds and ends that I know I'll need. I went to pick up a small bottle of training treats when I remembered the discussions on pet food, which then made me remember that puppies have extremely sensitive stomachs...

Anyway, what kinds of training treats are appropriate for young puppies? (8 weeks old and older) I saw two kinds that looked ok (small and soft) but I don't know if either are ok for puppies... Thanks!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Krista...I am getting one of Delta's minis from Teri! Your baby girl is beautiful by the way. I am planning to use Buddy Bisquits (the Little Buddies). They come in the perfect size, are good on stomachs because my chihuahua loves them! They are the only treats he will eat. They come in bacon and cheddar (a favorite of ours), peanut butter and veggies. I don't think they have them at Petco though. They are usually in smaller, local stores that carry organic foods. But they are not that expensive. Go to: www.cloudstar.com to find them near you.

[Amy]

I use Zukes but they can be expensive. Sometimes I mix them in a baggie with her kibble so the sent and flavor mixes. I also cut up tiny pieces of roast chicken (if we are having it) freeze in a single layer on a plate then in a freezer bag. It doesn't cost anything (since I already have it) and she loves it. Kosher hotdogs cut really tiny, baked to get rid of extra fat, blot with paper towel and freeze the same way. The last 2 are "special" treats. Good luck!

[Holly Southall]

The trainers at our class told us to mix up the treats a bit, so they don't know what is coming. I had actually thought of using cheerios and kibble. My cocker spaniels used to love cheerios. Angel gets cheese from the trainers in class. They use a Moz. cheese stick and break it up into the tiniest pieces you would not think work at all, but she loves it.

If she gets too much of a strong beef or liver product she ends up with loose stool, so we try to avoid that.

[Tammy & Gracie]

Another cost effective treat is dog food samples. Better pet stores usually have dog food samples in small bags. They usually have all kinds of different formulas for you to try, The samples are usually high quality, premium foods. FREE!

[Amanda and Wheatley]

Hey Krista, have you bought the treats yet? I bought some and Madden doesn't seem to care for them. She will do anything for a piece of chicken but she isn't intrigued by treats! I went back and tried more savory treats that resembled chicken, but I don't think they make any! Maybe she will get more food oriented when she gets older, but for now, she just doesn't care for anything but home made food!

[Krista, Angel, and Toby]

Right now, Angel likes the Petsmart treats, the Nature's Recipe. They're not the highest quality, and I always break them into three pieces, but at the moment she's getting sit and down pretty well using these. I also bought Zukes peanut butter flavored treats, but she doesn't like peanut butter! Go figure!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

get the Buddy Bisquits - I prommise you can't go wrong! Peri and Taquito both go nuts, they are healthy, break apart, etc...

[Susan, Zeke. Lily & Jasper]

I have had good success with Zukes - Salmon for Zeke and Chicken for Lily. All the other dogs at obedience training were always trying to get our treats! If your local stores don't carry them they can be ordered on line. We have also used cooked chicken, liver and cheese. Zeke will do anything for any treat, Lily prefers chicken Zukes or cooked chicken but gets tired of either before class is over sometimes. She is not very treated oriented. It may take trial and error to find what your dog likes best.

[Kyoko]

I use her kibbles at home. I put a cup of kibbles in the treat bag, and work on stuff at feeding time. Whatever left in the treat bag after the practice (?), I just put them in her bowl and give it to her.
At the obedient class, I use soft treat like zukes.