Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly  I've used turkey hotdog bits to train dogs, too. Boy, they ALL love them and work hard for them. Can truly motivate even the most shut-down dog!
Shame some dogs can't tolerate even a tiny bit of them w/out ending up very sick.
Still, what's so frustrating is when you speak up & others don't 'get it', think you're being too strict and sneak your dog treats anyway you eventually learn people can hurt your dog out of the 'goodness' of their hearts, thinking they know better and from a place of just ignorance of food sensitivities. Or don't even ask, just rip off a bite of food and stick it out to your dog!
I've come to think all treats are not always given with good or best intentions, that 'treaters' often think they know better or are being 'kinder' to your dog than you are when they watch you at a party or picnic and see you don't share anything with your dog or only give bits of dry kibble you're brought - like those parents who deny their kids one bite of candy while their buddies are all are enjoying Halloween goodies or never let them have a TV, video games or cell phone as their friends party on around them. People feel those parents could be too strict, often want to let kids 'cheat' when the parents not around, allowing them the usually 'forbidden'. I've come to think some 'treaters' are like that, some just too tuned out to listen to your warning or in denial that mere food can make a dog severely ill. But they've never seen the bad side, never forked up the nursing, the worrying, the cleaning or come up with their own $ to pay for the vet treatment for the 'treat'.
Suffer along with your dog's every cramp, puke and poop, wash their tiny mouths and messy butts over and over until raw, keep changing his soiled bed cushions, push tiny, frequent teaspoons of liquids praying they don't throw it up and dehydrate, before which you must rush them into the vet, whatever the cost or the time of night, keep checking their gums, vitals and watch them just lie there on medications feeling horrible and repeatedly pay a few $495 - $1200 plus bills up to twice weekly every few months out of your own pocket, money you earned working when you didn't even feel like getting out of bed - and you get far less tolerant of do-gooders who try to or do 'treat' your dog, whatever their intentions.
It's happened or almost happened to two of my dogs with very severe digestive issues only a very few times thankfully but each time I worried my dog could die - after holidays and out in public - but enough that I've grown into someone who wonders why others think they know better than a dog's loving, responsible owner but too many seem to - but they aren't around to see the results if they succeed in getting that 'treat' into your dog. If they had the worry, the stress, the nursing duties, had to miss sleep as they continually monitored a dog that could go into dehydration/shock any moment as far as they know, work w/out sleep, pay all those bills from their own pockets, I think they might come from a less 'good place' and stop with the offering food/treats to others' pets without permission.
I'm the biggest believer in approved treats in the world, treat my dogs after every almost every potty session, etc., but one day I hope those out and about around others' dogs ask the owner/guardian first B4 sharing with that dog, whatever their heart is telling them. |