What Type Of Food Reward Do You Use?

[Embellish]

Just wondering what type of food reward is best when training dogs?

Thanks guys

[Tralee]

Hi labs26.

I don't use any rewards.

My dogs have been trained with repetition.

While repitition 'in situ' is best, I am happy with the results.

[baileyb]

I'm a fan of food training and as silly as it may sound, I use different things for different situations.

For general around the house or out for a walk, I use smackos or goodos or that type of thing. For serious training whether it be agiltiy or obedience, I use cheese, cabana or anything smelly.......and I rarely wash the container I keep the treats in.

The smellier the better for training.

[blacklabrador]

PW - fascinating approach.... however irrelevant to the question..

To the OP - you have a lab - are you having difficulty interesting it in food????? :rofl:

I used homebaked liver treats, BBQ chicken, kibble... hell my dogs would work for a piece of carrot

[shoemonster]

yep obedience school I use smelly cabana

but at home I use any smackos or cat treats or similar as they is less attention required at home!

Am at the moment weaning eddie off treats which is a pain as he is completely food obsessed! Molly is being trained with far less treats to make it easier later!

[Alison1474]

I used to use devon till someone on here told me it was bad for them. (I never did find out why ???)

So last week we went to training without any treats and they performed just as well as they normally do. So I don't think I'll use them anymore. They appreciate my praise more than the food I think!

[caffiend42]

Bets are on as to whether there are some big white dogs out there that are either bored, or boring.

The beaglies like cheese, but only if we have colds

Edited April 4, 2006 by caffiend42

[WreckitWhippet]

I use frankfurts, cheese, little bits of cabanossi , liver treats and sometimes just plain old dog biscuit when training.

I have stayed away from the smackos etc, as I find them very salty .

Reward and repitition go hand in hand, the dog does not simply perfect a task because he or she has been asked to do it 100 times. They learn and perfect by repeating the exercise and being rewarded for their success.

As they become more consistent, you can reduce the frequency of the rewards. Some dogs will not be enticed or rewarded by food, some prefer reward in the form of pats and praise.

[Pointers Rule]

Well said Warley!

[raz]

I use a variety - the bigger the performance the smellier the reward. Mortadella is good

[baileyb]

I use frankfurts, cheese, little bits of cabanossi , liver treats and sometimes just plain old dog biscuit when training.

I have stayed away from the smackos etc, as I find them very salty .

Reward and repitition go hand in hand, the dog does not simply perfect a task because he or she has been asked to do it 100 times. They learn and perfect by repeating the exercise and being rewarded for their success.

As they become more consistent, you can reduce the frequency of the rewards. Some dogs will not be enticed or rewarded by food, some prefer reward in the form of pats and praise.

Hey Warley

Please tell me didn't eat the smackos yourself and it was your dogs who told you they were too salty!!

[bloss344]

I use homemade baked meat treats as a rule, but Bob is just as enthusiastic about bits of frozen green beans or frozen peas. He is totally food obsessed. I thought that the meat would be high value and the beans low value but nope they are all equal.

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

I thought cabana, cabanossi, etc would be too salty?, use dried liver whch I do in the de-hydrater

[Guest ~*Pixie*~]

I use chicken roll.

Anything else gives Kaeleigh the trots... she seems quite happy to work for chicken roll every week though

At home we train with cut up 4-legs.

[yogibear]

chicken and roast beef any lftover bbq hamburgers etc he gets gssy on sauage or those processed rolls of meat and hotdogs

[Tim'sMum]

I use the little liver treats from the supermarket......I'm sure the dogs don't care if there are preservatives in them!

[Cheyenne_Fury]

I'm with baileyb i use different foods for different situations.

For training at home I just use kibble or cheese or something else i happen to have on hand at the time.

When out for walks and going to the park they get liver treats

and for agility my boy jake gets cabana and cheese or VIP chunkers (cut up) the smellier the better.

Don't need half as many treats now for agility because he loves it and the particular piece of equipment that we are working on (we are only in level 2) or the combination of equipment is reward enough for him to want to do it again

[KitKat]

Nicely said Warley

As to what treats i use? my Bronx will work for almost anything (kibble, cat food, fruit, sausage, salami, devon, savoys, whatever)...especially if it's something i'm eating at the time

Sabre the pup is working better with toys then food so far

[WreckitWhippet]

Hey Warley

Please tell me didn't eat the smackos yourself and it was your dogs who told you they were too salty!!

Well actually, it comes from the show ring and putting pieces of food in my mouth while I stack the dogs. Having tasted smackos amongst other things. I think that it is very salty. I have also found that the dogs drink a lot when I use it and that often they don;t think it's a reward at all, they have been known to spit it out.

One of their other favourites is the homebrand or coles chicken roll. That's also more desirable to the human as well

[Embellish]

Thanks guys for your imput. I have a lab that eats anything for her reward but I was unsure as to whether some treats were "better for her" than others. She has basic obedience, loves to fetch the ball, but then loves to "gallop" straight by you ready for a chase! The food rewards are working well - but I have no hope without food rewards.

How long do you suggest a training session like this (active) should be?? After about 5 minutes she is "dusted" (we live on acres so she gets a good run-up) and just does a belly flop at the water bowl!

Thanks again for your help -

- Colleen