Dog training treats,,,,what's your preference??

[mastercaster]

So what do you prefer to use as treats when training your bird dog? Bought from the pet shop, weiners, kibble, other?

Luckily for me I have lots of wild game (deer and moose) trim in the freezer, as well as spruce grouse, since I don't care for the dark meat too much, an duck and goose breasts. Sako will literally jump through hoops for any of these!

Even though Sako will eat all that stuff raw I make jerky out of it so I can carry it in zip lok bags. Just ran out of all the goose jerky I had,,,,,big bag lasted over 5 months.

The last two mornings I made up some deer trim jerky so I'm good well into the fall. Have to give kudos to Sako for leaving it alone while I was out. I left it sitting on the counter to cool and finish drying until noon totally unguarded. Even with the smell wafting through the entire down stairs of the house it sat there the whole time!



In reality I fully expected that BUT I know if my mom left a pie on the counter when I was a kid and I was the only one home there's NO way I wouldn't have eaten some! lol

So do you make or buy your dog treats for training purposes?

[tomahawk]

We save the liver from rutting moose and deer thats white speckled and the trimmings off the heart that we dont eat and any access raw heart and dehydrate them. Most vets use dried liver, got the idea from them.

[mastercaster]

We save the liver from rutting moose and deer thats white speckled and the trimmings off the heart that we dont eat and any access raw heart and dehydrate them. Most vets use dried liver, got the idea from them.

I've got 2-3 deer livers sitting in the freezer that I need to do up as treats. Do you just do the same thing,,,,,slice them up thin and throw them in the oven,,,,or do you actually use a dehydrator? I can only imagine how stinky the house will get after doing that!! lol

[Foxton Gundogs]

My preference is a pat on the head and "good dog"

[moosinaround]

My preference is a pat on the head and "good dog"

That’s how I do it too! I think the bond is stronger with praise, rather than food rewards! Pat on the head, toy, and a good face shake!! Moosin

[Iron.Bender]

I fully agree Mossinaround

[mastercaster]

Dogs are like people,,,,they respond differently to different types of positive reinforcement. My griff is a real foodie and she definitely works way harder for treats than physical appreciation or verbal praise. I was the same way. If I did something well or accomplished something that was totally unexpected I much preferred coming home to a home made apple or blueberry pie than getting a hug and a "That'a boy!"

My last Brit responded better to physical appreciation where as her mother preferred high value treats instead and they basically had the same DNA proving they were different from each other even though they spent a fair bit of their lives together. You just never know what works best so you use both methods to show your appreciation for a task well done.

I always give verbal praise and a back rub to my griff but it's truly those deer, moose, and goose treats that's icing on top of the cake for her. I have no problems getting/making my treats for free so cost is not an issue. I hear the high value treats purchased in pet shops can be really pricey.

I've only ever owned female bird dogs. Perhaps males respond differently but I doubt it,,,,each dog has its own identity as to what means more to them. I really don't think one method of positive reinforcement is any better than the other. Just my opinion of course.

[Foxton Gundogs]

Dogs are like people,,,,they respond differently to different types of positive reinforcement. My griff is a real foodie and she definitely works way harder for treats than physical appreciation or verbal praise. I was the same way. If I did something well or accomplished something that was totally unexpected I much preferred coming home to a home made apple or blueberry pie than getting a hug and a "That'a boy!"

My last Brit responded better to physical appreciation where as her mother preferred high value treats instead and they basically had the same DNA proving they were different from each other even though they spent a fair bit of their lives together. You just never know what works best so you use both methods to show your appreciation for a task well done.

I always give verbal praise and a back rub to my griff but it's truly those deer, moose, and goose treats that's icing on top of the cake for her. I have no problems getting/making my treats for free so cost is not an issue. I hear the high value treats purchased in pet shops can be really pricey.

I've only ever owned female bird dogs. Perhaps males respond differently but I doubt it,,,,each dog has its own identity as to what means more to them. I really don't think one method of positive reinforcement is any better than the other. Just my opinion of course.

Sorry MC but dogs are not like humans, we the owners can indeed shape and think of them them that way. facts are dogs are not foodies or food driven, they are what we make them. Sure you can make them food driven if you choose, My dogs will not react to treats because they have never been used as a bribe. If you start a pup so they learn attention and praise is the greatest reward then that is what will stimulate them, if you reward/treat with food you condition them to expect treats as reward. A pup is just a pup, a dog is what you make them.

[Viper]

"A dog is what you make them" so true Fox. I can't stand seeing people "humanize" their dogs. An old friend used to say "you're just a dog and that's all you will ever be". We all have our ways in how we raise/treat our animals.

[Iron Glove]

We've preferred deer "jerky" but the last few years I've been deerless so we've been drying out yams and sweet potatoes, our mutts love 'em.
Many years ago when the Good Wife and our first Toller were active in Agility, I took some deer jerky to one of the classes. Aware that not all Dog Sport enthusiasts are pro hunting, I was expecting a bit of negative vibes when I offered some to each of the class members but everyone, and their dogs loved it. After giving each class member a handful I noticed that one guy was eating it and I politely pointed out it was for the dogs, not the humans. He laughed and said "I'm not wasting this on the dog, it's delicious."