Training your puppy to learn basic commands can be a daunting task. In order to make things easier lure the puppy for treats is the best way to train. However few puppies love toys more than treats. luring for toys works well with them. So you need to understand which things work best for your puppy.
What makes a good dog training treat?
- Dog training treats should be
- small sized
- easy to break( or soft)
- irresistibly yummy
- Strong smell
- healthy (low on fats)
Also, Read Puppy Training: 5 Basic Commands To Teach Your Dog
5 best dog treats for puppy training
Keeping in mind that treats should only sum up a small portion of a dog’s diet(about 10%). Too many treats lead to obesity and other health problems in dogs.
We all know dogs generally are very food-focused. So while selecting the puppy treat always keep multiple options, you never know which treat impresses your pup a lot. Below treats are no artificial flavors or colors, we at spoiltpups prefer all-natural.
1. Kibble – dogs regular food
If she likes dry food, then use kibble. But eventually, your puppy loses much of the interest with just kibble. some dogs won’t find it rewarding enough. To take it up next level, keep few kibbles which are kept for training in a small container with bacon or hot dog. The smells of hot dog/bacon should soak into the kibble. Once again your puppy will be on track to training.
2. Hot dogs
Yes, it’s the same hot dogs we consume. Puppies love them. But be careful you should cut them teeny, tiny bits smaller the better. Cook the hot dog pieces in the oven or microwave until they are very well done. This will make them dry rather than greasy when you’re holding them. Refrigerate between training.
As hot dogs contain high fat, it’s better the use them occasionally and in small quantities. I will call this as “Back Up” treat. If you have no choice, then this is the best choice. The stinky smell alone makes dogs drool. Also, it is a cheap option and also ingredients in it a safe to consume.
3. Kitchen treats
Chopped meat (any poultry/beat/pork): Chop to small size, dry it out using the oven.
Cheese(Mozzarella): String cheese also works great on puppies. It is soft and most dogs find it appetizing. As it’s not sticky easily portable for training.
Veggies like Carrots: some puppies are allergic to few types of meat so better option is carrots. Baby carrots are a great option. But this requires some time on chewing, so better your puppy has teeth.
Dried Eggs
A homemade dog training treat which is rich in proteins and vitamins, also calcium.
You can also use boiled eggs, but we prefer dried eggs.
Crack two eggs in a microwave-safe dinner plate with cooking oil. Microwave for 2 minutes and cool it. check for texture, if you want it to dry for some more time, extend microwave for an additional 1 minute. Store in the refrigerator between training sessions.
4. Rocco & Roxie Gourmet Jerky
Let’s research what’s best on market. Rocco & Roxie Gourmet Jerky is natural and healthy. No stink hands. Comes with several flavors like chicken, beef, and turkey. The deep, roast-y fragrance of smoked meat is the first clue: this is real American Beef, Chicken or Turkey of the highest quality. Purchase on Amazon. All-American made with no wheat, corn, soy or gluten, these jerky treats are smoked for 15 hours before they make it into their packaging.
The treats are long but soft in texture. They can be easily cut into smaller portions.
5. Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats
I would personally recommend Zuke’s treats as the best dog treats for training, offering a great natural product for a very competitive price. Treat comes in seven different flavors: chicken, duck, peanut butter, pork, salmon, wild rabbit and exotic.
These are the no.1 best selling training treats on the whole of Amazon
These treats are also on point nutritionally so you don’t need to worry about your dog packing on the pounds if you’re rewarding them little and often. The treats are small, so no worries of breaking. Buy it on Amazon. Also, the pack comes with resealing able ziplock which keeps them fresh.
Most Special Treat: Pro-Treat Stewart Freeze Dried treats for dogs
Freeze Dried Treats are the most reliable training treat. Come in tiny pieces. Ingredients are not mixed up, just made of one ingredient. So it’s high on purity. Check on Amazon. Freeze-drying retains all the flavor and nutritional value of the whole food source. It comes in 9 flavors like wild salmon, beef liver, pork liver, turkey liver, chicken liver, bison liver, chicken breast, duck liver, and lamb river. Grain-free, gluten-free, hormone-free with no preservatives or artificial colors or additives. A healthy treat for dogs with food sensitivities or those on a limited ingredient diet.
Good Dog Training treat characteristics explained
1. small sized
Dog training is usually done on an empty stomach so that puppies will not get distracted. Always their attention will be on a treat. What if we give a big treat or more treats, it will easily fill up their stomach and feel bit lazy, also the excitement of training is lost.
2. Easy to break( or soft)
Treats should be easy to break. As explained above we can cut them to smaller pieces. Avoid chewy treats. Usually chewing treats are not good for training, puppies take their own time for chewing. So this disturbs the whole process of training.
3. Irresistibly yummy
Only if your dog loves the treat, she will listen to your words. Else she keeps wondering to get something better. So make sure, she loves the treats to the core.
4. Strong smell
Dogs are always sniffing. They are good with the smell. The strong smell keeps them attentive to tasks. Distractions are very minimal in this case. Stronger the smell is tastier the treat, that’s how dogs feel.
5. Healthy (low on fats)
Not all treats go well with all the dogs. Few are quite allergic, so consult your vet if she is allergic to something. Always go for all-natural ingredients treat. Do not ever feed more treats, it will lead to obesity.
How often should you exercise your dog?
Exercise is always good to keep dogs healthy. Though exercise needs are based on a dog’s age, breed, size, and overall health, your dog should spend between 30 minutes to two hours on an activity every day. Breeds in the hunting, working, or herding groups (e.g., Labrador retrievers, hounds, collies and shepherds) will need the most exercise. If your dog is in one of these groups and is in good health, she should be getting at least 30 minutes of rigorous exercise along with her 1-2 hours of daily activity.
How many treats do you give your dog a day?
The dog’s size matters a lot while giving treats. Always give them less, to keep them healthy. So let’s classify them on sizes. Small dogs not more than 2 treats a day. Medium dog, not more than 3 treats a day. Larger dogs can eat up to 5 teats a day.
Quality of treats
The quality of the treats you give your dogs makes a huge impact on their health. Low-quality treats are filled with unwanted chemicals and animal by-products. If you want to ensure that your dog is as healthy as possible, you need to find high-quality dog treats. You can save a bunch of vet bills, with healthier treats.
