Best Reward Treat

Bob Z · 03-12-2010

We have a 9 year old Sheltie we rescued from a kennel. She doesn't know her name and doesn't respond to "come". She will not take food from our hands. What is the best treat to get her interest so we can begin to try to train her to respond. She is very stoic, timid and clingy! Wants to spend as much time in our laps as possible.

Bob Z

CorkyMax · 03-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Z

We have a 9 year old Sheltie we rescued from a kennel. She doesn't know her name and doesn't respond to "come". She will not take food from our hands. What is the best treat to get her interest so we can begin to try to train her to respond. She is very stoic, timid and clingy! Wants to spend as much time in our laps as possible.

Bob Z

Liver treats (home-made) are what I would consider the favorite of most dogs. Here is a link for many recipes including a few for liver treats. If you decide on these--best if you can use organic liver as is much healthier. Homemade Treats There are 11 pages in this thread.
Check these recipes out for sure: page 2-post # 13; p.4-#35 and 36 And #40; p5-#44 and 47; p6--#57; p7-#65; p8--#72.

What is your dog's name and how long have you had her? Maybe she needs more time to adjust?

You might want to check this thread out also--very informative on what not to feed your dog!-- Foods that are hazardous to a dog

Bob Z · 03-12-2010

Thank you. I'll try the liver treats. Her name is Tessa and we have had her six weeks. She has a wonderful, if quiet, disposition and is good on the leash and staying with me. A vet assistant told us that kennel moms are "numbers" and not "names" so it may take some time.

Thanks again

cigwyllt · 03-12-2010

You want something really smelly - liver is good. Also, hot dog sausages can be very tempting. Have you changed her name to Tessa? Often changing the name of an adult rescue can be a very positive step.

Todd · 03-12-2010

Hello and Welcome to the forum!

I agree with trying some liver treats. You may also want to try some small pieces of meat like chicken, turkey, or beef. When I took my Lucky to puppy school I used to buy a boneless chicken breast and cut it up into small bite size pieces. Dogs generally LOVE meat!

Really work on positive reinforcement. Teach her to come. Start on a leash and have her come to you with a little help. Every time she does so reward her with plenty of praise and a delicious food reward. 100% positive reinforcement is the key to success in this situation. After using the leash for awhile, start this practice without the leash gradually and she'll be running to you when called for a reward every time! Just be sure not to use her name in a negative fashion for you only want her to associate her name with positive things so she will learn to respond positively to it. Something my teacher from puppy school did was she bought a huge elastic rope attached to her dog at all times in the house. When she called her dog she gently guided him toward her and rewarded him. This is how she trained her dog to come. Seems kind of crazy to me but if the method I talked about before doesn't work this would def. be something to look more into. Just make sure to remain patient, consistent, and diligent and great things will happen!

Good Luck!

Lara's mom · 03-15-2010

Grill a steak and cut it up into treat sized pieces. I have yet to meet a dog who "wouldn't turn cartwheels" for a bit of steak.

DoggieVogue · 03-15-2010

I make homemade liver treats, and that is all I give Luca for treats, meat wise. He also gets baby carrots regularly. He will do anything I ask of him for either one.

Todd · 03-17-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoggieVogue

I make homemade liver treats, and that is all I give Luca for treats, meat wise. He also gets baby carrots regularly. He will do anything I ask of him for either one.

By any chance would you mind sharing your recipe for homemade liver treats? I'd love to try and make some for Lucky.

CorkyMax · 03-17-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd

By any chance would you mind sharing your recipe for homemade liver treats? I'd love to try and make some for Lucky.

Todd, In my above post in this thread --I gave a link to more than 1 or 2 liver treat recipes. And prob. 1 is a recipe by Doggie Vogue.

Note: If you use beef liver--best to get organic as the liver is where all the toxins go in the animal. I mostly used chicken liver--not as messy either.

Todd · 03-17-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Todd, In my above post in this thread --I gave a link to more than 1 or 2 liver treat recipes. And prob. 1 is a recipe by Doggie Vogue.

Note: If you use beef liver--best to get organic as the liver is where all the toxins go in the animal. I mostly used chicken liver--not as messy either.

Oh, ok. Thanks.

Lunareclipse · 03-17-2010

Some dogs go nuts for delicacies from the cat box! just kidding. My dogs love peanut butter. Wave a tablespoon of peanut butter in front of their nose and they'll do every trick they know just to get some.

Lara's mom · 03-17-2010

You just had to remind me that I have a turd eating hound!!!

Todd · 03-18-2010

Add Lucky to that list as well

FlashTheRottwuggle · 03-20-2010

Liver treats, bits of steak or chicken, and small pieces of hot dogs are always high end treats, but with Flash, nothing takes the cake like a bit of a slice of American cheese. Go figure!

Todd · 03-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlashTheRottwuggle

Liver treats, bits of steak or chicken, and small pieces of hot dogs are always high end treats, but with Flash, nothing takes the cake like a bit of a slice of American cheese. Go figure!

you're right on about the cheese

Lara's mom · 03-22-2010

In my experience, the best reward treat is whatever it is that your particular dog likes best!!!

Todd · 03-22-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

In my experience, the best reward treat is whatever it is that your particular dog likes best!!!

Good answer! Can't believe it took this many posts to figure that out...

CorkyMax · 03-22-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd

Good answer! Can't believe it took this many posts to figure that out...

Hey! Maybe the dog in question didn't get much choice and was getting only one commercial brand and it wasn't that well liked!! Give the poor baby a break and let him sample some goodies and make a choice!:mrgreen:

Todd · 03-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Hey! Maybe the dog in question didn't get much choice and was getting only one commercial brand and it wasn't that well liked!! Give the poor baby a break and let him sample some goodies and make a choice!:mrgreen:

Good point!