Treats??

[vickayx]

That's and excellent idea about using the dehydrator.. what is the shelf life on your home made treats?

[tanza]

@vickayx:

That's and excellent idea about using the dehydrator.. what is the shelf life on your home made treats?

Well I make a batch about every two weeks this time of year. When showing a lot, would either make more at one time. Right now I use about two packages of the chicken tenders at a time. Just about fills up the 5 trays. I do cut/break them up into fairly small pieces. I even snack on some now and again… But I would think the shelf life would be fairly long. When they are done I put them in plastic bags then into a container.

[vickayx]

I will be using holistic dog food (Earthborn) and I want to use treats that are in the same genre of health and quality. This is great thank you!

[vickayx]

Weird question though, about raw bones? Should they be given as treats or part of a diet. Also are chicken bones dangerous because I heard some people I know say that but idk how educated they are about dogs and what they should eat. I read on a diff thread posted awhile ago that some ppl give there dogs chicken bones and they swallow them.. is that dangerous?

[lvoss]

For training treats, especially in class or away from home, you want something extra yummy so that the dog wants to work for the treat rather than pay attention to all of the really exciting distractions around. I often use cheese cut into small pieces but also make my own treats. You can use canned tuna, canned salmon, or canned chicken to make a really easy soft treat. Puree the canned meat with its juice and an egg. Mix with with enough flour to make a dough about the consistency of brownies, spread out on a greased cookie sheet or use parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Cook at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. You can then cut up the treats with a pizza cutter into small squares. Refrigerate what you will use in the 3-5 days and freeze the rest. If you have a dog with wheat allergies you can use rice flour instead of wheat flour.

[vickayx]

Oooo also those dried/smoked hoofs at pet stores. Idk if they are good or not. The big pig feet and ect..

[vickayx]

That recipe sounds really easy, convenient, and cheap!

[agilebasenji]

stay away from hooves - they are harder than the dog's teeth and can chip teeth.

Training treats are anything that the DOG finds reinforcing. This is what I've used at my house with my basenjis for training treats: chicken, meatballs, waffles, hotdogs, cheerios, baby food, bread, sweet potatoes, green beans, dog food, Zukes, steak, bacon (small amounts), playing chase, fetching, playing with other dogs, "hunting " rabbits, liver, eggs, dinner, cheese, walks, liverwurst, sniffing, etc. A top agility trainer talks about how one of her dogs LOVED playing with fly swatters; a friend of mine had a dog that would do anything for cole slaw (yuck!). Your list is limited by your imagination and your dog.

[krunzer]

@vickayx:

. Also are chicken bones dangerous because I heard some people I know say that but idk how educated they are about dogs and what they should eat. I read on a diff thread posted awhile ago that some ppl give there dogs chicken bones and they swallow them.. is that dangerous?

Don't feed a dog cooked chicken bones. They can splinter and puncture stuff as they go through their system. Raw chicken bones are good, as long as your dog isn't a gulper. Make sure they chew and not just swallow stuff. My dogs get raw chicken necks every once in a while but they are chewers.

I use the dehydrated liver treats, they smell gross but the dogs love them. I also use cheese and hot dogs, etc. Whatever my dogs eat.

[eeeefarm]

My guy loves raw carrots…...I think because he sees the horses get them and likes to steal them.......and he doesn't digest them well, as I see carrot in his stool, but he will work for them, which is all I care about.

[vickayx]

I love all the different ideas its good its not just one thing u HAVE to buy at the store just made for dogs… could be so much I guess its just trail and error in some way

[giza1]

@vickayx:

I love all the different ideas its good its not just one thing u HAVE to buy at the store just made for dogs… could be so much I guess its just trail and error in some way

I'd say that it has to be something that the dog REALLY likes (high value); small, because it's not a meal and the dog has to be able to eat it quickly; and something that is easy for the handler to deal with.
-Joanne

[tanza]

@vickayx:

Weird question though, about raw bones? Should they be given as treats or part of a diet. Also are chicken bones dangerous because I heard some people I know say that but idk how educated they are about dogs and what they should eat. I read on a diff thread posted awhile ago that some ppl give there dogs chicken bones and they swallow them.. is that dangerous?

Raw Chicken bones are NOT dangerous, cooked bones are. Cooked bones splinter. If you are going to feed bones, like Chicken necks, backs, turkey necks/backs and/or chicken wings, etc they need to be fed raw.

They can be a treat or part of the diet, however they should not be given at the same time as kibble. So some do a meal of raw and then a second meal of kibble.

Again, lots of information on raw diets and there is even a yahoo group list you can join.

[Chealsie508]

Hmm.. I learn something new all the time…. So you don't feed raw together with kibble... Is that because of contamination or about how differently the two digest? I don't feed raw... On occasion as a treat but I'm curious in case I switch over

[tanza]

@Chealsie508:

Hmm.. I learn something new all the time…. So you don't feed raw together with kibble... Is that because of contamination or about how differently the two digest? I don't feed raw... On occasion as a treat but I'm curious in case I switch over

They say that if you feed raw and processed food together they loose some of the benefits…. I don't really know that exact reasons honestly...

[Chealsie508]

Thanks Pat…. One can never know enough.... And I'm nosy enough to get the opportunity

[vickayx]

@Chealsie508:

Thanks Pat…. One can never know enough.... And I'm nosy enough to get the opportunity

I second that!

[Kipawa]

Whatever store bought treats you feed, read the ingredients carefully and make sure the threats are made in North America - food is from North America, processing is done in North America and all manufacturing is done in North America. Standards are not good in many other countries. I have stopped giving Kipawa chicken jerky. There is a brand that was recalled, and I can't be convinced that other brands don't come from the same manufacturing plant is China.

[DebraDownSouth]

Well after waiting a bit, I finally got the salmon ears http://www.salmonears.com/products.html today. I was wiped out, going to take a nap, thought– let me give them one so they are happy.

Big mistake. They first were like "wth?" Then, they went wild. They ate one, would not stop scenting and looking for more. I had to make them get under the covers. They got up. They searched the bed, the floor, they scented. I gave up, got up, got another and took pics.

I am going to place an order for 2 friends I had TOLD I'd share a few of mine with. Um, no. Not sharing mine. Until now, their fave thing has been the dried Canyon chicken breast jerky or Waggin trains. Since both from China, stopped them. They will eat any treat, but those made them happy. Guess what? They are happy again.

Will they work for training? There are large and small sizes. I am going to use the small for training, but the big ones created very very happy dogs.