Training treats

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GinaB

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What treats do you use for training? During class Rua is an angel, I would say she's one of the better behaved ones but at home and out walking it is SO much harder. Rich tea biscuits had been working but seem to be losing their appeal!
She's so frustrating :( it's one step forward and two back but I guess that's how it goes :D
 
Asda cocktail sausages sliced up, they are truly disgusting and I can't imagine anyone actually eats them but they make brilliant training treats. Rich tea biscuits are not a high enough value treat, my little madam would spit them out!
 
I have used frankfurters but worry about the crap in them. Baked liver is very high value and mine go mad for it, and I have just bought some sample of these treats which Pickle is going absolutely mad for.http://treats2sit4.co.uk/

They are a bit pricey, but Pickle only has a tiny amount, might work out t expensive for a bigger dog but maybe worth using for occasions when you really want to keep her focussed.
 
Good old fashioned carrots, though I've discovered Llidl's carrots need to be fresh or the fussier ponies reject them. Either sliced or cut lengthways into quarters.

Edited to say….

Ha! Must pay attention! I see this is with reference to dogs. OK, carrots still work for my two!:D Max has started tracking the line of a dragged sausage which he gets to eat when he reaches the end of the track! Tonight he almost galloped it.
 
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Ha Dry Rot, brilliant. In saying that I also feed carrots to my dogs! Heard they're good for their teeth.

Dog is question is a big lab so don't want to bankrupt myself but will look into those MM, thanks.

I think chopped up sausages might be an idea. There is a woman in my class uses them. Rua LOVES it when one gets dropped :D
 
treats need to be high enough value to be worth trying for ;) Avoid rubbish like biscuits etc, my 2 top options is either very small bits of strong cheddar or garlic chicken. For the chicken, pop a chicken breast in the oven with a couple of table spoons of water and several cloves of crushed garlic. Once it’s cooked and cooled you can cut it into tiny pieces and freeze in training size portions :)
 
It was a dog trainer suggested biscuits, she said as it's something they never get. I'd never have tried it otherwise lol

I thought garlic was bad for dogs. Stand to be corrected though. Do you freeze it so it takes them longer to chew at? Or do you defrost before use? Thanks :)
 
GinaB said:
It was a dog trainer suggested biscuits, she said as it's something they never get. I'd never have tried it otherwise lol

I thought garlic was bad for dogs. Stand to be corrected though. Do you freeze it so it takes them longer to chew at? Or do you defrost before use? Thanks :)
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honestly can’t believe any trainer would suggest biscuits but then actually, nothing in this world surprises me. No I don’t feed it frozen, just freeze it to keep and defrost. I’ve never heard of garlic being bad for dogs, I’ve been using it for my own for nearly 20 years and am on my 9th dog (8 collies and a lab), so far none of them has keeled over and died. I’ve also recommended it many a time in my classes. However, having just googled it I was surprised to see a lot of discussion over it - seems it’s only a problem in very large doses, like many things, although that info as i said is just from a quick google. Id be much more concerned about feeding biscuits, but then that’s just me ;)
http://www.petguide.com/health/dog/the-shocking-truth-about-dogs-and-garlic/
 
I admit, I was surprised at the suggestion too! But as it was working i went with it.

To be honest, I think she'd be happy with plain chicken so will try it as well, thanks. I can't stand the smell of garlic lol perhaps mixing her treats up eg cheese, sausage and chicken would keep her more wondering. Typical lab though, she'd take your hand off for food!
 
GinaB said:
I admit, I was surprised at the suggestion too! But as it was working i went with it.

To be honest, I think she'd be happy with plain chicken so will try it as well, thanks. I can't stand the smell of garlic lol perhaps mixing her treats up eg cheese, sausage and chicken would keep her more wondering. Typical lab though, she'd take your hand off for food!
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make sure she is hungry when you train, so before meals and make sure whatever treats she gets come out of her daily meal quota. I’m sure plain chicken will be fine and the cheese always works well - anything smelly ;) just keep the bits really small :) good luck :)
 
She's always hungry lol! But yes, she has had her meal cut back to make up for the treats and trains on an empty tummy. When she's good she's wonderful and I can see the improvements while out walking. Training an adult dog that has never had any training is hard going but it'll be worth it in the end :)

Does squeeze cheese not make you want to vomit Supertrooper?! Yeuck! :D
 
I use the dog's normal food/kibble for general obedience (taken out of his daily allowance) and so if I have a problem, I can use something of higher value. I used a fish based dry food.

If I fed cheese, chicken etc to my this dog, and we hit a snag...I'd probably have to move up to caviar or something!!!
 
Normal kibble and the mini training treats you can buy do her fine in class and training at home. :) It's for out walking when we meet other dogs which is our biggest issue at present. As you say, something better for when a snag is hit.

Can you tell I had issues walking tonight? ;) :p
 
I would question, why treats? I suppose none of the dogs I've trained have been very food orientated. Usually a bit of playing dog gets me to where I want them to go. Ear scratches, brief play session, etc. I have literally had gundogs that were so intent on game that they'd spit food out! Max is currently tracking dragged sausage which he gets to eat when he's found it.
 
Some dogs don't care about food, but for those that do, it is an easy way to reward them, so why would you not? You can phase it out later on once you have the exercise nailed, and just bring it out for an extra-special treat on occasion.

We normally say something squishy, smelly, and in bits no bigger than your little fingernail. Then we play the 'human two-pence machine' game - where the dog always gets some kind of reward, but sometimes it's food, sometimes it's an ear-rub, sometimes it's a brief game and sometimes it's JACKPOT (whatever their favourite is - normally three treats one after the other for most dogs). That way, they never know what is coming, so they stay extra-engaged. Like a person playing the two-pence machines on the pier - if you always won, you'd get bored, but because you only sometimes win big and the rest of the time you get the reward of everything inching just that bit closer to the edge, you keep going for longer.

Spud doesn't give a toss about food when he's working, but the rest of the time he's very much a foodie dog - so since I can't always have a pheasant in my pocket (clothing manufacturers are so inconsiderate about the needs of the spaniel-owner) a bit of food is a good substitute :D
 
Dry Rot said:
I would question, why treats? I suppose none of the dogs I've trained have been very food orientated. Usually a bit of playing dog gets me to where I want them to go. Ear scratches, brief play session, etc. I have literally had gundogs that were so intent on game that they'd spit food out! Max is currently tracking dragged sausage which he gets to eat when he's found it.
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I don't regard it as 'treats', I regard it as 'if you want to eat, best pay attention'.
 
Dry Rot said:
I would question, why treats? I suppose none of the dogs I've trained have been very food orientated. Usually a bit of playing dog gets me to where I want them to go. Ear scratches, brief play session, etc. I have literally had gundogs that were so intent on game that they'd spit food out! Max is currently tracking dragged sausage which he gets to eat when he's found it.
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so his tracking treat is currently a sausage

I have had one dog that would not work for a toy but would for a treat all the others I have taught to track for a game by following the scent of the toy
 
What is this about treats.? ........ do people not just use praise nowadays. Drug dogs are rewarded with their ball for example.
I don't agree with treats for kids, dogs or horses.
 
People can use whatever works for their dog. My dog will take your hand off for food or a ball, but I choose to use food for lower drive stuff. I said, food, not treats. It's part of what he eats during the day.
Of course we all praise our dogs, but my dog is very high energy and if I start saying WHEEE GOOD BOYYYY he'll just go bonkers.
Also, if I'm reading between the lines here, if the OP's dog is zoning out on a distraction, a tickle behind the ear isn't going to cut it.
 
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Don't forget OP, she may also be better behaved in class because you yourself are different there too. Are you looking around for things that might affect her out and about, but concentrating totally on her in class for example?

Also, remember it is normal to have to retrain something new in a new environment, until the lesson has really sunk in. Dogs can be quite context-bound - ie just because they get the idea that sit means sit in the kitchen doesn't mean they'll carry that outside into the hall - until you teach them that yes, sit means sit everywhere. So feeling you've gone backwards from a class is not unusual. :)
 
Spudlet said:
Some dogs don't care about food, but for those that do, it is an easy way to reward them, so why would you not? You can phase it out later on once you have the exercise nailed, and just bring it out for an extra-special treat on occasion.

We normally say something squishy, smelly, and in bits no bigger than your little fingernail. Then we play the 'human two-pence machine' game - where the dog always gets some kind of reward, but sometimes it's food, sometimes it's an ear-rub, sometimes it's a brief game and sometimes it's JACKPOT (whatever their favourite is - normally three treats one after the other for most dogs). That way, they never know what is coming, so they stay extra-engaged. Like a person playing the two-pence machines on the pier - if you always won, you'd get bored, but because you only sometimes win big and the rest of the time you get the reward of everything inching just that bit closer to the edge, you keep going for longer.

Spud doesn't give a toss about food when he's working, but the rest of the time he's very much a foodie dog - so since I can't always have a pheasant in my pocket (clothing manufacturers are so inconsiderate about the needs of the spaniel-owner) a bit of food is a good substitute :D
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Typical of operant conditioning iirc, rats press a lever more if they aren't rewarded every time ;) /extinction of behaviour less likely if rewarding is a bit more random, something like that anyway!
 
Kibble in a plastic bag, covered in the tom sauce sardines come in- yes it stinks, but oh boy is it high value. (well if ya dog likes fish that is!!)
 
ester said:
Typical of operant conditioning iirc, rats press a lever more if they aren't rewarded every time ;) /extinction of behaviour less likely if rewarding is a bit more random, something like that anyway!
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Yep, that is exactly what it is! However, explaining in terms of a two-pence machine tends to work better when you're standing in the middle of a field :D
 
Exactly right CC! When distracted I can't get her attention in any manner.

At home and in class I alternate between praise and a treat. I don't want to be dependent on food. Until I can get her over her 'I must drag Gina over to every dog I see!' I need something that will make her take notice :) she is not a bad dog by any stretch of the imagination but she had the first 18 months of her life with no attention, exercising, socialisation etc so being out and about is VERY exciting for her.

Spudlet, out and about I'm always talking to her trying to keep her attention and praise for when she walks nicely on a loose lead etc. I actually find in class I don't need to concentrate on her too much.

It is definitely more difficult as I have my other dog with me while out walking too but generally she is well behaved. But I can't walk them separately as Rua goes mental when left alone. And I'd spend my evening home from work walking and hardly have time to relax myself :D
 
twiggy2 said:
so his tracking treat is currently a sausage

I have had one dog that would not work for a toy but would for a treat all the others I have taught to track for a game by following the scent of the toy
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Max has had half a dozen tracking lessons so far and this evening tracked my helper at least 500 yards. The idea is that he will find, then bark for a reward. (He already barks on command, to get out, or if his water bowl is dry). Then later I'll dispense with the food reward and he'll bark on find. As I say, that's the theory! But I won't be competing and it is all just for fun. I'd prefer for him to bark at an intruder rather than eat one!:D

I seem to remember that fried bacon makes a good reward. If it is fried until crispy it will be fairly dry and not messy.
 
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