Your Dog's Favourite Treats?

I very bravely let Jasper off the lead today in Upton Country Park, and he was brilliant :wub: Sniffed around happily, came when called, and never let us get more than 10-15' away. He was momentarily deaf when he spotted some ducks, but came at the second or third call (I think he was weighing up whether ducks or peperami were more interesting) and pretty well ignored the ducks after that.

However, I know that if he spotted another dog, on or off lead, he'd have been over there like a shot because he loves other dogs. I've been reading up on the etiquette of dog encounters and know I have to be able to control this so we've still a long way to go on recall. As we're in the suburbs, most good dog walking areas are going to have plenty of dogs around - we were just lucky this morning.

So... what are your dog's favourite treats? Which would they cross hell and highwater, and a field full of bunny rabbits and squirrels for? I've seen recipes for liver cake but as I can't stand the stuff myself don't really fancy cooking it - but will if that's going to have the best results.

Can understand you not wanting to cook liver cake ( I was veggie for years, I understand your pain!)but the smell is not as bad as people make out and honestly it is the only thing ours will come back for every time. We are using it loads at the moment to try and stop them barking when we pass other dogs on walks and it is working! Make a big batch then you don't have to face it so often - and get someone else to do the blending for you, as that's the bit that totally grosses me out. It's really quite cheap to get lamb's liver from the supermarket and it makes more than you'd think. You can freeze it in sections and defrost it as you need it so it's really convenient.

I use 'Happy Walks' that come in a little pocket sized plastic pot, Blue loves them and the rattle of the box makes her return in a flash!

Esty, could you let me have your recipe for liver cake please? I was also veggie for many years but detested liver before then too. But there's always clothspegs for the nose

mine love liver cake but you the liver blow up my blender and havnt been able to make it since,

i buy natures menu treats (beef or chicken)

they love them, just the russtle of the packet brings them running.

i have also been known to take out little cocktail sausages as they are a firm fav :thumbsup:

Hmmm a list of treats.. I tend to find that variety is quite often a good idea. I do use liver cake when I can be bothered to make it but I get cow liver from butchers alot cheaper than lamb or pig. I also blend with oats....and add garlic. This is okay for those with wheat allergies etc. I also make a fish/turkey mix..this is really easy...couple fillets cheap white fish and blend with 400gm pack turkey mince, add some garlic if you like and bout 150ml of water. Blend all together and then spread on baking tray and cook in oven at bout 150 for 15mins (slightly brown on top) then empty off fluid, into dog bowl to add to their tea, and turn over for another 5 mins. I usually spread it onto foil and use that then to 'flip' it over . Leave to totally cool before cutting, try not to over cook or it goes a bit crumbly. This is also good for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Other treats

Garlic sausage

Liver sausage

Mild cheddar cheese (cheap n easy to cut up)

black pudding -not cooked best to cut cold (messy but good for paws and they love it)

luncheon meat

hot-dog sausages - soak in water for a bit to remove salt

Lamb breast -cook flat in oven. These are usually cheap from a butcher, ask them to remove the bone (which I usually give to one of my dogs to eat. )

Also some tescos do ham pieces at bout 26p/100gm. I usually by the bowl full, scoff all the really nice stuff and give dogs the rest!!! o

Am sure I use other stuff but cant think what at the moment :b

Well that's a start anyway

Regards Tina

For recall/training I always use something special like sausage, chicken or cheese rather than bought dog treats. I'm sure liver cake would go down well too, but I'm another one who hates the thought of making it

With recall training in particular I like to keep them guessing - sometimes they get a single piece of whatever treat I'm using, sometimes they just get a load of praise and fuss and sometimes they hit the jackpot and I'll throw down a handful of bits of sausage (or whatever). It seems to keep them more interested and more likely to respond than simply giving a treat each time.

all mine adore cooked heart, slice the raw heart longwise so it needs to sit in less water and simmer for 30mins drain the water for the dogs tea and cut into treat size pieces, it freezes well and you can take out a few slices at a time and its dry when cooked not greasy or oozy or smelly so you can put it in pocket and not get messy hands

cheese also goes down well because it's a novelty

Ahhhh, come on....she's a lurcher, anything will do :lol:

Honestly, Hebe doesn't have a favourite food, it's just FOOOOOOOODDDDDD :wub:

Scrumpy is a bit more fussy but not that much. Again, it's food.

Rafferty now, well you'd never poison him. He's not open to bribery of any sort but he does like those Natures Menu treats.

I think of all the things I've tried (most of which are listed in the posts above) the one thing which I have found is completely irresistible to my gang is roast beef (w00t) ......... expensive, but worth it for the benefit of keeping their attention on me :thumbsup:

Cut up bits of tripe stick also go down really well