TREATS FOR DOGS!!!

The selection of “treats” on store shelves is overwhelming. Many of these treats are of questionable quality and unnecessary ingredients. Look for ones that are made mostly of a pure source of animal protein. We all succumb to some jumk food once in a while but use good judgement and consider the source. Food sensitivities can be an issue for many dogs and the culprit ingredient can be hard to identify. Using food treats as training rewards can be very effective but remember that different dogs like different things at different times and sometimes just like something new or presented in a different way!


LOW Level Rewards

• Your dogs’ regular dry kibble food can be used for a reward in many low distraction situations.
• Daily kibble can be turned into a more powerful motivator by measuring out your dog’s daily allotment of dry dog food and putting it into a container or zip type bag and then tossing it with a few morsels of strong smelling treats such as cheese, roast beef, chicken, etc.

MID Level Rewards

• Cat Food Crunchies
• Packaged store bought treats
• Breakfast cereal such as Cheerios
• Cut up vegetables such as carrots, lettuce...
• Cut up fruit such as apples, bananas, blueberries, pears ... especially watermelon on a hot summer day :0)
• Snack foods such as popcorn, crackers, corn chips, goldfish crackers, etc.
• Cooked pasta, tortellini
• Roll type soft dog food cut up into small cubes (Rollover, Natural Balance)

HIGH Level Rewards

• Roasted chicken, roast beef, steak.
• Boiled or baked organ meats such as chicken hearts, livers, beef tongue or heart
• Homemade liver or tuna “brownies” made with pureed meat, eggs and minimal binding ingredient such as rice flour. See http://pawinhand.com/pages/sniff/yummy-things.php for recipes
• Homemade peanut butter or pumpkin cookies
• Cheese - the stinkier the better!
• Hot dogs cut up and microwaved on paper towels
• Pepperoni (natural variety) cut into teeny tiny smidgin sized pieces (it’s the smell that counts!
• Egg omelet cut up
• Peanut butter or liverpaste in a squeeze tube (new  baby food product on the market too!)
• Spoonful of yogurt, cream cheese, etc.
• Raw meaty bones such as lamb shank, bison knuckle
• Kong type toys stuffed with mixture of soft dog food and tasty tidbits. Also try frozen into a pupsicle! (www.kongcompany.com)

The way that you present your dog with his treat can change how rewarding it is as well. Try tossing it into the air. Try rolling it ahead of your dog on the ground. Try wiggling it around erratically before giving it. Try hiding or burying it slightly.

Jackpots! If your dog made a particularly good effort then reward him with multiple treats given in succession and spread out over a longer period of time while chanting “oooo ... yeah ... wow ... what a good dog you are .... good good good good dog!”

Be aware that some foods are poisonous to dogs such as chocolate, onions, grapes... Check out http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/foods_poisonous_to_pets.html