Comments on: Is it true that some treats work better than others when training a dog?

By: Kate M

Kate M — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:58:49 +0000

Yes, some treats will work better.
However, you have to keep in mind that the dog is doing it for the treat, not for you. If you don’t have a treat, the dog will not do what you want. If the dog doesn’t work for a piece of kibble, you give a moist treat, then he won’t work for that and you give a hotdog, then chicken. So he will want steak just to sit.
I would avoid using treats. Your dog should do what you tell them because he wants to please you, not because you have a hot dog.

By: laughing

laughing — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:08:28 +0000

Not necessary a *specific* treat, but yes some do work better than others.

Say you were being trained, as a human. If someone offered you say a carrot stick compared to chocolate cake (or whatever your favorite food/dessert is) which would you be more motivated to work for?

My dog personally *loves* hot dogs, cheeses, and this peanut butter muffin. Compare that to normal biscuits, crunchy treats, etc. she behaves so much better and is actually excited to do training sessions.

Try some *smellier* foods, such as sandwhich meat. (Note that with sandwhich meat, break into small bits, and don’t over-feed.) If your dog doesn’t respond well (should be highly interested, trying hard to work for you to earn it) then just keep switching until your dog finds something he loves.

Also, treats get old after awhile. So be sure to rotate, so find a few treats your dog adores. It might be a good idea to save your dog’s most favorite treat for public training only. That way your dog will work extra hard and be on better behavior. Use less enticing treats for home.

Good luck!

By: BYBS sell sick puppies for crack

BYBS sell sick puppies for crack — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:31:28 +0000

Yes

a high value reward often works better. Dogs do have some concept of value.. peices of meat or cheese are much better than dry biscuits.

Thats like asking if you’d rather work for $5 an hour, or $10 an hour.. of course if you’re getting paid more, you’re going to feel more motivated to do your job! A dog is going to feel more motivated to learn and obey if he feels the reward is well worth it.

If your dog is working well for the biscuits tho, I’d save the high value rewards for the expecially tricky commands, or the ones that you want to strongly enforce (such as the recall command)

By: fantakat

fantakat — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:43:32 +0000

The more motivated your dog is, the more obedient he will be. He’ll be most interested in learning obedience if you give him a compelling reason to focus on you and the task, and meat is a compelling reason. Other dogs like cheese, peanut butter, or other (safe) treats. It really depends on the dog too — some will be fine with just biscuits whereas others will only really focus with “higher-value” treats.

By: N AO

N AO — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:45:26 +0000

a dog does not have discriminating taste. Think about it dogs like garbage and kitty and other dog poop. Are those the tastebuds of a discriminating dog? A dog will eat anything and he will do anything for a treat. We think it is better and we transpose our feelings onto the dogs

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:40:56 +0000

YES! I gave my dog Milk Bones and they didn’t work and then I gave him some other kind my neighbor makes and they work like a charm!

By: somethingelse

somethingelse — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:54:49 +0000

Sure, dogs have food preferences. One of my dogs will do anything for peanuts or peanut butter in a Kong; the other one can take it or leave it. The other one loves cheese.
The best ones I’ve found are cut up wieners.
Pieces of cheese.
Begging strips (I break it into smaller pieces) they have a strong smell that gets the dogs attention.
If I’m doing allot of training I just use the dry dog food that I would give the dog as her breakfast. I measure out what she would get into a plastic bag or the pouch I clip on my waist that is made for dog training and use that.
I’ve even used cold pizza.
I think my older dog would do cartwheels for strips of meat.

By: Jill

Jill — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:59:40 +0000

Absolutely! Just be sure to reserve that specific type of treat that is working so well for training.

Good luck and congrats.

By: dovereleaser

dovereleaser — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:40:56 +0000

OOOOOOOOO yes. Don’t WE all have favorite foods? What’s yer poison? Um, gimme a Bil Jac liver treat with a little cheese on the side!

By: Chihuahua Meme

Chihuahua Meme — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:26:16 +0000

The gal that trains on the TV show out of England called “It’s me or the dog” uses chicken. We use Hollywood Stars Liver Treats that you can get at Walmart. They go nuts over them and my husband has trained 8 dogs to go leash free on our farm. They stink to me like liver but they have a lot of protien and I can’t see any junk so I prefer them over some. Meat is hard to keep fresh.