Canine Enthusiasts Share Their Secrets For Training Dogs Unmotivated By Treats
Some dogs treat “sit” like a suggestion, not a command, and it’s always weird when everyone swears the same treats worked on their dog.
In the middle of all that, you’ve got a newly adopted shelter pup who might not be comfortable yet, plus a whole pile of training sessions where the usual dehydrated liver just gets ignored. One minute you’re offering cheese, hot dogs, or Bonkers with chicken, the next minute the dog is staring at the wall like you’re speaking a different language.
The twist is, motivation might have nothing to do with food at all.
It could be an emotional thing.
Some dogs are traumatized because of the changes in their lives. The need may be more emotional than food.
Try spending time playing and see if fetch with a tennis ball as the reward for training works. Be creative and find what your dog craves.
Hot dogs can be a way to a dog's heart.
Cheese. Hot dogs.
But if you recently adopted the dog, it may take a while before he’s comfortable enough to be interested.
Combine treats with real meat.
Try Bonkers dog treats with chicken.
Every dog I meet likes it, and even dogs with sensitive intestines or allergies have shown no issues with Bonkers treats (with chicken).
Or go with no treats at all. Choose displays of love and affection.
Love and cuddles, positive reinforcement, good boy, etc.
There are plenty of choices. You just need to find out which one works.
Training a newly adopted shelter dog can be a rewarding experience, but finding the right treats to motivate and engage them is crucial for success. While some dogs may not be immediately interested in traditional treats like dehydrated liver, there are plenty of other options to explore.
Here are some irresistible dog treats to try:
1. High-Value Treats:
Experiment with a variety of high-value treats such as cooked chicken, turkey, or beef. These meats are often more appealing to dogs than store-bought treats.
Cut the meat into small, bite-sized pieces for easy consumption during training sessions.
2. Cheese or Peanut Butter:
Many dogs go crazy for cheese or peanut butter. Use small amounts as a special reward during training.
You can stuff peanut butter into a Kong toy or use it to coat other treats for added appeal.
3. Freeze-Dried Treats:
Freeze-dried meats, such as chicken or fish, retain their natural flavor and aroma, making them irresistible to dogs.
Look for single-ingredient freeze-dried treats without additives or preservatives for the healthiest options.
4. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables:
Some dogs enjoy the taste and texture of fruits and vegetables, such as apple slices, carrot sticks, or blueberries.
Use these natural treats sparingly, as some fruits contain high sugar content and may cause digestive upset in large quantities.
5. Commercial Treats with Strong Smells:
Opt for treats with strong smells, such as freeze-dried liver or fish treats. The potent aroma can capture your dog's attention and increase motivation during training sessions.
Break these treats into smaller pieces to make them last longer and prevent overfeeding.
6. Homemade Treats:
Consider making homemade dog treats using simple, dog-friendly ingredients like oats, peanut butter, and pumpkin.
There are countless recipes available online for homemade dog treats that you can tailor to your dog's preferences and dietary needs.
Conclusion:
Every dog is unique, so it may take some trial and error to find the perfect treat that captures your shelter dog's interest. Be patient and persistent in your search, and observe your dog's preferences to tailor your training approach accordingly.
Remember to use treats as a positive reinforcement tool and to keep training sessions fun and engaging for both you and your furry friend.
Discover what makes the doggo go nuts.
It takes time for a shelter dog to decompress. It's your job to find out what motivates your dog.
It could be a toy, a blanket, you, kind words… Each dog is unique.
My dog was not interested in treats at first. It took time.
A favorite is a Kong stuffed with treats and peanut butter. Good luck on your journey.
Try different commercial treats.
Jerky treats by Freshpet for sure! They are soft and come in a purple bag. My little one is fussy but goes absolutely bonkers for these; she doesn't want any other!
Ingredients are great; please try them!
Cat food could work.
First of all, if your dog is training on a typically full belly from the usual “Oh, the poor shelter dog” diet, he won't react to slices of rare steak…
HIS BELLY IS FULL… Change that…
The strongest motivator in ANY DOG'S LIFE is food… It beats out all other factors, including sex…
So… First, you cut his rations IN HALF… Put the rest in a zip-top bag for later, and serve it as supper after all training is done.
Once the dog's belly is grumbling…???? THEN you can get his attention with food…
My standard high-value treat is cheap dry cat food. The high-fat content is irresistible to the dogs, and the kibbles are tiny, so I can “treat” the dogs constantly while training without filling them up.
Some doggos love peanut butter.
For long training sessions or regular visits, I’ll change up the cat food with peanut butter to avoid boredom.
The stuff is now available in these handy-dandy squeeze tubes that let me put a dab on a finger for a SPECIAL treat.
Still stuck with a hyperactive German Shepherd that won’t take treats? Check netizens’ tips for training one without a trainer or treats.
A user's ultimate weapon: Slim Jims.
My “Nuclear Option” for dogs that are so anxious and “shut down” they are refusing food…???
Slim Jims…
Biting off small bits of greasy, smoky, mechanically separated mystery meat with gristle and chunks of fat and tossing them to the dog WILL get his attention… Then you can use the lesser tools once you open up a line of communication…
Some believe natural treats are the way to go.
I buy pumpkin treats in biscuit form. I get them from Amazon.
All natural.
For special training use.
Mine go crazy over chicken wrapped with sweet potato or bacon. It doesn’t matter which one; they inhale either one.
They’re a little larger than a training treat, so you might save these for special training activities.
The small liver training treats have always worked well for me. Make sure you’re getting real ingredients.
Maybe that’s why he hasn’t liked them, or he’s just one of those dogs not motivated by food. For that, you will need a professional.
Pick up some cheap ingredients and try them during training sessions.
I clicker train with either cheap ham or cheese. Cheap ham is really pungent and seems to get the attention of most dogs.
I'll cut it into pieces half the size of my little fingernail to work with.
If dog treats won't work, maybe human food will.
My go-to high-value treats for dog training are:
#1. Bacon
#2. String Cheese
#3. Chicken (raw for my dog)
If commercial treats won't work, try natural ingredients.
We have Hill’s Science Diet treats, Milk Bone knaw/chew treats, and small Milk Bone Butter, and these are commercial treats. What dogs love best is plain old chicken that I bake or grill in very small pieces.
They do get two meals each day, and with treats, I minus out a little bit of their regular food. Make sure there are NO bones in the chicken.
They can eat the chicken neck bone, but most chickens don’t come with that these days. They do when it is a whole chicken that you are cooking.
Go with bacon or cracklings.
Most dogs can easily be manipulated by treats. My JRT bitch is just not interested.
Except for crisply fried bacon or crackling. And then not too enthusiastically.
You could try that - good luck!
In her case, running and playing easily substitute for treats. I know, hard on the owner, but it works every single time.
Duck jerky could work too.
My dogs could never get enough duck jerky (sold in the dog treat aisle); you could try those.
That’s when the tennis-ball fetch idea suddenly starts sounding less like playtime and more like a legitimate training lever.
If the dog won’t touch dehydrated liver, it’s time to test the “hot dogs can be a way to a dog’s heart” theory with something they actually crave.
Meanwhile, the Bonkers treats with chicken move from “maybe” to “okay, fine, that worked,” even for dogs who act like they have sensitive stomachs.
And if all else fails, the shelter-dog routine shifts to no-treat training, where love, cuddles, and a very enthusiastic good boy do the heavy lifting.
It takes trial and error plus patience to determine what motivates a dog during training. Remember, every pup is unique, so what works for one might not work for another.
Stay observant, stay positive, and keep experimenting until you find the perfect incentive that gets your dog's tail wagging and their attention focused.
When the tennis ball and the hot-dog-level rewards finally click, you stop wondering what’s wrong with your dog and start figuring out what they needed all along.
Can’t decide between cheese and squeaky toys for your dog’s training? Read how dog lovers weigh toys versus treats.
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