Let’s face it – some dogs are pickier eaters than others. And that’s okay! When it’s time to train our more finnicky friends, let’s discuss what you can do.
First: Check in with your dog
The first thing to do is examine your dog’s physical and emotional well-being. Decreased appetite can be caused by stress, insecurity, pain, or physical discomfort. (I discuss this more in my post on How to Train a Dog Who Isn’t Food Motivated.) But in short – address your dog’s physical and emotional needs if possible first, before going further down the rabbit-hole of finding the optimal treat.
When to use better food rewards (aka “people food”)
Here are four situations in which I recommend pulling out the “big guns” or the most amazing meat-and-cheese type treats:
1) Your dog is truly a picky eater
If your dog is not overfed (eg fed at set mealtimes, not free-fed), and they aren’t stressed or unwell – then congratulations! You may have a properly picky eater on your hands. Just like us humans, some dogs do have a choosier palate than others. Not sure if this is your dog? I discuss more on how to assess your dog’s interest in training treats in my post on
Choosing the Best Dog Treats.
2) Training for anxiety or fear
If your training revolves around your dog’s fear or anxiety, that’s a great reason to go above and beyond with your food rewards. You want to create the biggest positive impression for your dog when those scary or stressful situations come about. Don’t hesitate to bring out the very best treats!
3) High-distraction environment
When training in interesting places (grassy fields, dog parks, crowded spaces, city streets), your best bet is often to up your treat game. It’s no small task being more interesting to your dog than distractions out in the great big world. Meat and cheese can help!
4) You want amazing engagement and training results
Do you want to wow friends and family with your dog’s flashy obedience cues? Do you simply want to enjoy training a dog who is engaged with you and excited to train? Do you want your dog to not just mosey, but drop everything and sprint towards you when you call? These can also be valid reasons to bring out the highest-value treats in training.
My favorite training treats for picky dogs
Note: It probably goes without saying, but “people food” or treats of any kind should be given in moderation. Please consult a veterinarian or canine nutritionist if you have concerns about your specific pet’s diet.
Here are my go-to’s for high-value food rewards for dog training, as well as some pros and cons of each:
String Cheese
+ Can be sliced, or used the “lazy” way by tearing pieces off
+ Keeps forever in the fridge
+ Easy to keep on hand
+ Dogs love it
– Not the best for all stomachs
– Not the healthiest
Rotisserie Chicken
+ Convenient – my grocery store sells pre-shredded tubs of it
+ Not as clean-eating as home-cooked chicken, but still fairly healthy
+ Easy to digest
– Can be messy – splits into fine strands and leaves crumbs
– Short fridge life
Grilled chicken strips
+ Fairly healthy
+ Convenient
+ Easy to digest
– Short fridge life – use quickly
– Expensive
Ham steaks
+ Convenient (chop, bag and go)
+ May come pre-sliced to save time
+ Pieces hold their shape
– Watch for additives
Hot Dogs
+ Cheap
+ Easy to slice into quarters
+ Keeps well in fridge
– Not the healthiest
More Ideas:
Sometimes, you just have to keep trying until you find that one magic food for your ultra-picky pup. Other times, dogs can grow bored of the same-old treat reward they always get. Here are some more options to consider – I’ve used each of these at least a time or two, but they wouldn’t usually be my first choice:
Bacon Bits
+ Dogs LOVE it
– Needs cooking
– Greasy
– Crumbly
– Pretty unhealthy
Frozen meatballs
+ Somewhat convenient (microwave or cook first, then bag)
+ Useful as small-quantity, high-impact rewards (“jackpots”)
– Crumbly when chopped
– Typically too big when not chopped
– Watch for additives and seasonings
Deli Meats: Turkey Breast, Roast Beef, etc.
+ Convenient
– Messy
– Usually sliced too thin to be nice to train with
Home-Cooked Chicken Breast
+ Healthy
+ Known ingredients and seasonings
+ Easy to digest
– More prep work
Shredded Cheese
+ Pre-shredded
+ Can work for small dogs/puppies
+ Great in a pinch
+ Keeps forever in the fridge
– Can be messy
– Awkward treat size and delivery for some dogs
Pecorino Romano Cheese
+ Super-duper high value
+ Holds it’s shape
– Not the healthiest
– Greasy
Final recommendations:
What treats do I use most as a trainer?
Most of the time when I’m training, I carry 2 types of treats: one variety of shelf-stable training treats, and either string cheese, hot dog bits, or diced ham. I use the training treats whenever I can get away with it. But – If a dog is pickier, if I’m helping them through their fears, or big distractions come up, I’m still prepared to help my dog be successful
Let me know if you’ve used any other dog-safe “people foods” treats with good results!
