[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

After our trick training class, Joey became very picky on which treats he would use, I had to keep getting new treats, with higher and higher fat content. I was feeding him his regular meals, and when you train 5-10 minutes a day, that's a lot of extra treats. In a word, he wasn't that hungry, and he gained a pound in those 2 months, vet put him on a diet, and his meals are much smaller now, so he's hungry. If you're not hungry, it takes something like a desert to tempt you to eat, but when you are hungry, oatmeal tastes good. Remember, when first training a new trick, a treat must be given each time the dog performs, after the dog really understands the trick rewards can be given less often, for example every second or third time, but when first learning it's imperative to reward each time. That why I suggest that meals be used. Some people use cheerios, and they aren't too high in fat, and are mostly air, so they won't completely ruin the appetite for healthier food, but if your doing lots of training even these will interfere with a healthy diet.

thank you for the suggestions. i am not sure if i can make her hungry enough to accept kibbles as treats just yet because milu is a very picky eater and she eats very little. at this point she is not 'fat' enough for me to feel confident about trying to have her go hungry enough to accept kibbles as training treats. i think i will try your suggestions when she is older, and hopefully she will also be a less picky eater when she is older. (she is 8 months old right now)

as for cheerios, is that a good treat for them? because it's sugary and i worry it will give her cavities.