Cloud Star Training Treats - YUMMY!!!

I always try and look for training treats that are corn, wheat and soy free whenever possible.  It's easy to be lured in by packaging or "cute looking" treats, but knowing that allergies are one of the biggest problems in dog breeds and especially the terrier breeds, I err to the side of caution.

Having fosters in the house on a near full time basis, who have little to no training; much less housebreaking skills; I need to motivate with food most of the time.   I also know that like people, obesity in pets is spiraling out of control, so portion size is also a big factor in treating.

Unlike humans, dogs are satisfied with just a tiny morsel (yeah, I know, I just ate a cream filled donut for breakfast, get off my back)  A tiny treat works just as well as a big one.  In fact, I can fee good about treating often, say every time the dog comes near me if I use a tiny treat.

Enter Cloud Star's Trick Trainers Crunchy,  a crunchy eraser sized treat and Tricky Trainers Chewy, a soft eraser sized treat.  The dogs loved both treats, though the soft ones seemed to be preferred by the dogs if given a choice.

I personally prefer the crunchy treats because I tend to leave a pile of treats on my desk for use each time the dog comes to me.  For example, foster dogs are usually starved for attention and this means they like to stand with paws on your leg begging to be pet.  This is fine if you're not trying to work or complete a review, but having a nose constantly shoved under my arm as I type is not something I enjoy in a constant basis.  So I train "off" and "sit."  First, I train the word "off" by gently pushing the dog off of me.  Then I treat and tell them "good off."  Once they figure out that "off" comes with a treat, I work on the next command of "sit."  For this, I tell the dog off, once the dog does this, I don't treat, but rather, hold the treat up over the dog and back and tell them to "sit."  Sometimes, I need to gently take the collar and help the butt of the dog into a seated position.  Once the dog does this, even with help, I treat and praise "good sit."   Eventually, you can do both commands "off" then "sit" together and treat as the dog the final sit.   In quick order, you can simply tell the dog to sit when they want attention.  Then as they sit, they get a scratch and/or a treat.    Soon the dog simply comes, sits next to you and looks up at you with those big brown eyes.  When we get to this point, I usually reward only with affection, but once in a while, I sneak a treat.  This keeps the dog wondering if this will be the time he gets the treat or not.  Either way, he'll keep doing it that way just in case.

Which ever Tricky Trainer you prefer, The Naked Dog gives Cloud Star Tricky Trainers four paws up!!!