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01-08-2011, 11:11 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bolingbrook, IL, USA
Posts: 59
| Too Many Treats??? We have 2 yorkies...Rocci who is under 5 lbs is almost 3 years old and Reeses who is just over 5 lbs is a pup at 20 weeks. Normally Rocci eats a 1/4 cup of dry kibble twice daily and Reeses eats a 1/4 cup of dry puppy kibble three times daily. I say normally, but as of recently we are making an extra effort to be consistent with our rules and to lavish the dogs with praise and treats when they do what we ask (which is what most owners suggest, right?). So here is the issue...most off the shelf dog treats are relatively large for toy breeds, and even cut in 1/2 (which is what we do) is quite large. It does not take many treats to equal 1/4 of a cup, which essentially replaces 1 of the meals above. I've read countless times that treats should not exceed 10% of a dogs daily food intake... In Reeses' case it might be 33% of her intake, and in Rocci's case it could be worse at 50%! When using the positive praise/treat system to reward good behavior is suggested...ie dog stays off the couch = praise/treat, dog stops barking at neighbors dog = praise/treat, training dog to heal = praise/treat...etc...etc...these things can add up, especially for our puppy who we are house breaking. Get puppy to go into crate on their own = praise/treat, puppy goes potty on pee pad or outside = praise/treat, puppy goes poo on pee pad or outside = praise/treat. So my question, are most of you owners out there just giving really tiny treats Vs. the off the shelf I get at the grocery store (which can be relatively large)? How large should the treat be? Are there healthier treat alternatives out there? Any suggestions or tips would be helpful, as I don't want my dogs missing meals because they feel full from eating treats through the day...nor do I want them to become picky eaters due to the fact they now have a taste for treats only or something. |
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01-09-2011, 05:51 AM | #2 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| I'm constantly giving Jackson treats because we do clicker training, trick training, agility, etc, so I always use either real meat (like pieces of boiled chicken) and I buy those cheese sticks that I break into little tiny pieces. As for dog treats, I use Zuke's (they're small-about the size of an eraser, and about 2 calories a piece) or "Canz Real Meat " and break them up even smaller.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
01-09-2011, 06:07 AM | #3 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bolingbrook, IL, USA
Posts: 59
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01-09-2011, 06:31 AM | #4 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL
Posts: 1,400
| Because my husband "treats" the dogs every time he walks into the house, I keep a glass canister of kibble of another size and flavor than their daily food.I think the click of the glass cover is as important to them as the treat.Ziva usually leaves the treat behind anyway... |
01-09-2011, 06:41 AM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Dakota
Posts: 106
| I second the kibble thing, except I keep some in a little plastic bag. That makes it seem like it's extra special to Chewie. I will occasionally find a soft treat and break it into tiny pieces into the bag, and that will give the kibble a different smell/flavor.
__________________ Kristal and Chewie, my favorite mini-Wookiee |
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