So perhaps you’ve signed up for an Introduction to Nose Work class, and perhaps you’ve even read why great Nose Work treats have just the right taste, size, and integrity — and that the stink and slime factors matter too. There are so many great dog treats produced today. Which ones will be the most successful great Nose Work treats, for your Introduction to Nose Work class?
Choovio Beef & Mussels; Choovio Chicken & Mussels, and Choovio Turkey & Mussels. You would expect treats containing mussels to give off lots of odor, and these do not disappoint. At the same time, the odor is not too offensive to most people, and these treats are not even a little bit slimy. They can be broken into pieces of any size without crumbling, making them a great Nose Work treat for dogs of all sizes, from giant to tiny.
It can be a challenge to give the smaller dogs the high rate of reinforcement desired for Introduction to Nose Work, while keeping their weight and diet under control. In addition to the fact that dogs love them, these treats are easy to handle on the human end, plus, not messy at all.
Store-bought treats are all well and good, but there are several advantages to home-made treats. They are often (but not always) tastier and cheaper, and the variety is almost limitless. However, they are often more work than store-bought treats. You can get fancy, or you can get by with just a knife and a little imagination.
We’ve recently discovered salami as a very high value Nose Work reward. It’s stinky. It’s greasy. Our Labradors LOVE LOVE LOVE it. You could buy a big stick of salami, but we suggest spending a little extra and buy it already sliced. (We further tear each slice into 3-4 smaller pieces.) Sliced is easier for the handler, and there’s another big advantage: the thin slices cover a larger portion of the dog’s tongue, compared to chunkier treats of similar weight. This gives your dog the illusion that it’s a larger treat than it really is.
Hot dogs slice easily into bite-sized pieces. They are easy (they’re pre-cooked), convenient (you can chop and freeze them), available everywhere, cheap, and have a distinct odor and taste that dogs love. The best ones hot dogs for Intro to Nose Work are pork and/or beef, with a high fat content.
Cheese is another easy favorite. If you’re lazy like us, you can buy it sliced or diced, or in single-packet servings. Or you can save a little money and chop it yourself, before you come to class. For the best Intro to Nose Work results, go for stronger cheeses (be reasonable: no stinking out your classmates or instructor please). Sharp cheddar rather than mild. Swiss rather than Monterey Jack. You get the idea.
And avoid soft, cream-cheese consistency; if you can spread it with a knife, it will also stick to the boxes, and to your fingers.
Do you have meaty left-overs? Wash off any sauce, dice it, package it, and you’re ready for Nose Work class. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend in the restaurant business, politely ask if you can get unfinished meat portions after the plates are cleared. You never know, you just might have a pipeline to almost unlimited left-over steak!
If you are willing to spend more time and money, you can cook and dice cuts of beef, lamb, turkey, or chicken.
We have been told that Trader Joe’s has a product called “Just Chicken” which consists of chicken breast cooked and chopped into cubes, perfect for Nose Work!
Of course one drawback of actual fresh food is that it will have to be refrigerated or frozen in between training sessions so that it won’t rot. But it can be worth it, if you are more organized that I am!
Note: Please don’t bring raw meat to class. Humans will be handling the food, and we can’t assure the safety of humans handling raw meat.
Just as with kids, dogs love fast food burgers (just the burger, no bun or toppings) and fries. Fast food corporations invest heavily into developing just the right combination of flavorings, fat, and sugar to entice young palates. Yes, it’s far from a complete or healthy diet. It’s up to you, whether you’re okay with these items as special treats.
Some people swear by a dehydrator for home-prepared treats. A cheap alternative, and the one we use, is to spread the treats on a baking tray, turn your oven to the lowest setting, and bake for an hour or two. The dehydrator is easier, usually can be preset to turn itself off, and provides a more appropriate heat level for the very best outcome. The oven is cheaper and you already have one in your kitchen, but if you leave the treats in too long, they will burn. Not that we would ever do that here. Or set off the smoke alarm. Cough cough.
Why dehydrate? If you take out some of the moisture, you decrease the slime factor, and increase the shelf life. Don’t take it too far though. Over-dried treats lose that stinky quality that will keep your dog searching for more.
Home-Made Tuna Treats. The home made tuna treats have been tested and approved. Our dogs go bonkers over them. See the recipe here.
Home-Made Chicken Treats. The fabulous Eileen Anderson shares a revolutionary way to make treats that don’t require chopping. See her secret here. I can’t wait to try it on our beta testers!
Secret recipes. We really don’t have a secret recipe. Truthfully we don’t try many; we’re too busy baking desserts for ourselves instead. But many people do cook up Nose Work treats from recipes. Have you baked treats for your dogs? What did you think? Would you be willing to share your favorite recipes, for the benefit of all Nose Work dogs?
In choosing great Nose Work treats, make sure you look at the ingredients to determine if they are appropriate for your dog. Check for items that may cause any allergic or digestive issues for your dog. Safety and health always come first.
What have been your most successful Nose Work treats? How do they rate on the scale for taste, integrity, odor, slime, and size? Have you found any treats that reek more than Louisiana Crab Jerky? Do you have a favorite “real food” for Introduction to Nose Work class? Our Labradors are eager to try out your treat suggestions.
Copyright 2015, 2016, and 2017 by Linda V Fletcher
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