Have you ever been around an unsocialized, untrained, poorly behaved dog? Most people can recall at least one such animal when I ask them this question, so take a moment and think about what they were like. Maybe he’s a counter surfer that will devour anything unsecured, or maybe she’s a runner who absolutely refuses to return to her owner when called. Maybe he jumps up and knocks people to the ground, or worse…maybe she bares her teeth ferociously when you pick up her toys.
None of these scenarios are great, but some are admittedly worse than others. A dog who refuses to recall may end up hit by a car. A dog that does not know what “leave it” or “drop it” means may ingest something toxic before you can pry it out of their mouth. A dog that guards resources may eventually bite, leading to injury and possibly behavioral euthanasia. Regardless of whether the issue at hand is a true danger or simply a nuisance, a good foundation of obedience training is critical for a well behaved and safe canine companion.
The good news is that training your dog is fun, rewarding, and easy…once you have a few basic tools in hand. We’ll go over all of them eventually, but let’s talk about the most important one of them all: the “high value” treat!
So…what does “high value” mean?
Stop and think about something that totally grosses you out. Fear Factor level stuff. Like…would you allow somebody to dump a bucket of spiders all over you? No, of course not! But what if that somebody offered you $5 if you let them? Chances are the answer is still a no. What if they offered you $500? You might, but it’s still a hard no from me. $5,000? My resolve is wavering, but still no. $5,000,000? I’m not gonna be happy about it, but I’ll do it.
Dogs aren’t much different from us in this regard. If you offer your dog a bite of bread, he may stare at it for a second before deciding to try it. If you offer her a slice of cheese, she may run right over at the sound of the crinkly wrapper. If you give him a giant hunk of prime rib, he’s probably going to turn himself inside out with excitement.
The trick to efficiently training your dog is to find that $5,000,000 treat. The thing that she will do absolutely anything for, even if she really, really doesn’t want to. As convenient as they are, I’ve yet to ever run across a store-bought training treat that meets this criteria for any of my dogs. Also, they’re exorbitantly expensive.
Let me tell you a secret: the highest value, most affordable training treat at your disposal is probably sitting in your fridge marching steadily towards its expiration date right now as we speak.
Hot dogs. Yes, really.
Dehydrated hot dogs are one of the most versatile, cheapest, and longest lasting training treats you will ever stumble upon. There are multiple ways to prepare them, but whichever drying method you use, the initial prep is the same.
Cut one in half lengthwise and then chop into smaller pieces. Ideally, you want them no more than a quarter inch thick. We’re not making kibble here, we’re just trying to get little bites that will motivate a pup to do what we ask.
From here, you can pick whatever method you like the most. If you own a dehydrator, use it. If not, you can line a plate with a paper towel, dump the pieces on top, and pop them in the microwave for about five minutes on high. They’ll still be spongy feeling when done, but they’ll firm up as they cool. This can result in some burning, though. My dogs don’t seem to mind, but I’m not a fan of the smell it creates. So, I usually dry mine in the oven.
This method is equally as simple, it just takes significantly longer. Spread your pieces out over a cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for two hours. Pull them out every once in awhile and shake them up to prevent over and under-doneness.
A finished batch can be stored in an airtight container in your fridge for up to three weeks. They can easily be tossed in a treat pouch or pocket, they’re crumb free, and if you were to ask Skye, she’d tell you that each piece is worth a kergillion dollars to her. I’ve yet to find anything that’s higher value, and trust me when I say I’ve tried.
So! Go make a batch of these, and meet me back in the next post where I’ll go over the other basic equipment you’ll need.
Dupplin Scotties 