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Health & Fitness

Training Treats for Dogs: What's in your Bag of Tricks?

Assuming that your dog is food-motivated, consider different training rewards for your pet when training

Are you using treats (a.k.a. positive reinforcement) to reward your pet for great performance? Fabulous! If Fido isn't thrilled about your food rewards, you may need to re-think your strategy. 

Assuming that your dog is food-motivated, consider different training rewards for your pet when training. The higher the quality/value of the treat, the more your dog will appreciate it. Try having treats that you ONLY use for training. Your dog will know that it's time to work when the really good stuff comes out.

1. Dry dog cookies - probably the most boring treat for your dog. Save these for times when you just want to give your dog a snack - they are not very motivating for most dogs.

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2. Pre-packaged Training Treats - usually a moist treat with lots of smell & flavor. A pretty good choice if you have to grab treats on the run (sort of like fast food.)  They tend to be expensive. If you do the math for 2-3 ounces of treats, some of them cost $7-$10 per pound. Wow!

3. Real Meat and Chicken - These are great choices and usually knock the socks off of most dogs. Buy a lean cut of beef or use chicken breast - you can cover them with a bit of water and add garlic powder (not garlic salt) and cook for a few minutes. Cut the meat or chicken into a few small squares, package in a small zip-lock bag and freeze until needed.

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Remember, dogs react to smell more than taste. If you can use a nice fishy or garlic-smelling training treat you will have your dog's attention and your wallet will thank you!

Happy Training from PetWorks and the Digging Dogs Training Center

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