WHY TRAIN WITH TREATS?

Treats are a valuable tool when used correctly. They help the dog have an immediate positive association with whatever they are doing when they get the treat! That means you can have a powerful effect on behavior AND you can shape your dog to become the perfect pup that you want them to be. It takes some learning on the part of the trainer, and some letting go of ego (I used to want a dog that would obey me without needing to use a single treat), but once you are capacitated as a treat trainer, believe me, you will be grateful for the skill, and your dog will be much happier. Happier dog, happier owner, happier everybody (even your neighbors and the dog/owner pairs you meet in the community will feel the difference). We could have a cohesive and happily balanced dog world if everybody raised their dogs with kindness and less force. Less ego, more intentional training. Less harshness, more softness, Less correction, more play. Wouldn't we all like to be treated that way?

WHY FREEZE-DRIED RAW?

By using this process, we can retain 97% of the original nutritional value of the meat. Freeze-dried raw provides a great source of nutrition for your pet and the highest value reward for motivation while training. By preparing small batches we can take the utmost care to preserve quality and freshness for your perfect pup.

CAN DOGS REALLY EAT RAW MEAT?

Recent science shows that incorporating raw food as at least 20% of our dog's diet will improve health outcomes and help prevent the onset and progression of disease over the course of their lives. What do dogs in nature eat? Dead animals, poop, plants and dirt. Dry dog food digests differently than raw dog food. That being said, try feeding raw treats separate from your pup's dry dog food, especially when you are first introducing it. There are many dogs that have never eaten raw food, but they are designed to digest it. There are many great resources online that can guide and direct you in your understanding of dog nutrition. One recent publication with all the new science on the topic is FEEDING DOGS by Dr. Conor Brady. Dr. Karen Becker also has a recent publication THE FOREVER DOG. These are the top specialists in the field and their work is exceptional. The Whole Dog Journal is another great resource, as is Dog's Naturally Magazine. Peter Dobias and Marty Goldstein are two more holistic Veterinarians who can inform you on your raw-fed journey.

WHAT IF MY DOG ISN'T INTERESTED IN THESE TREATS?

Whenever we use a tool in life, we typically learn what it is used for and how it works. Sometimes we learn by watching others use a tool. Other times we learn by reading the manual. We might even try it out ourselves and see if we can figure it out. With treats and dogs however, there is very little instruction before most people start using them. If the treat doesn't work as a tool to train your dog to become the way you want the dog to become, it is probably too low value, or it is being used incorrectly. There are dogs that are not food motivated. I have a feeling that these dogs are likely emotionally distressed or have never been fed species appropriate food without an emotional overlay. Often times it is us humans that train our dogs not to take treats by either associating food with stressful situations, or being to pushy and throwing tantrums at our dogs while trying to get them to take a treat. Again, human emotion can get in the way

Some dogs are extremely overfed. I didn't know my Amira was obese until I was stopped by two distinct individuals who informed me that she was not only a little overweight by only one year old, but about 20 lbs overweight!! I was shocked! I figured that she was a Newfoundland mix and it was just normal for her to be really "bulky." I am so grateful to the man at Cabela's who is a conformation judge at the dog shows in town, and the woman who owns the dog food supply shop on the West side of Wasilla, because they probably gave me back 5 years of Amira's life that would have otherwise been lost if she had lived at 20+ pounds overweight her whole life. That being said; when she was at her max capacity, I would feed her raw chicken legs and she would take them and carry them around, or put them down and lay by them, but she wouldn't eat them. I figured something was wrong. What was wrong? She was suffering from over-nutrition! Her body knew she didn't need more.

Another reason your dog might not be immediately interested in these is that they are used to artificial flavors and sugar in their food. Most dogs will perk up immediately for these treats because they are a source of REAL nutrition. If you offer it to them multiple times, it is highly likely that they will discover it is incredibly delicious to their innate dog self. If they are only interested in highly processed treats with additives, consider helping them transition to a healthier diet for longevity purposes. We love our dogs! We want them around as long as possible!

*If your dog is very healthy, eats a raw species-appropriate diet, and is still not interested, consider that there might be a sensitivity to the specific protein and try a different meat.

If your dog is missing teeth, or has trouble with their jaw, you can still feed them these treats: just soak them in water in the refrigerator to re-hydrate, and then use them. Try re-hydrating them partially and see how it goes.

Finally, if you are concerned about the health status of your dog, contact your holistic veterinarian and ask if this product is a good choice for your perfect pup.

WHAT ABOUT IF MY DOG WON'T TAKE TREATS IN GENERAL??

This could be a red flag that your dog is extremely stressed out or has developed a fear-based relationship with you, or those who participate in your household or interact with the dog on a daily basis. It may have been bred on a puppy mill where its parents were neglected and in deplorable conditions under which they became so stressed that they passed these genes on through the epigenetic process. This being said, there are many dogs that have been psychologically damaged that will not take a treat because they are too stressed and constantly pumping out too much cortisol. This may be a result of their breeding, or lifestyle, or both. I gave some of my treats to an excellent trainer in town. She tried them with one such dog at the local shelter who would not take a treat from anyone. By the end of her encounter with this dog, the dog was following her around asking for more of our Perfect Pup Premium Training Treats. This goes to show that patience, kindness, and respect for dog body language and boundaries, mixed with the right treats, equals a successful encounter and a chance at opening that dog up to healing and a better life.

NO MOISTURE: NO MESS

ARE THESE TREATS MESSY? THEY ARE RAW!

The nicest thing about these treats is that the moisture is completely removed when they are freeze-dried. We also make sure to trim the fat, so they don't leave as much mess on your hands or on your gloves. (The slobber from the dog's mouth might leave some moisture on your hands though!) I like the convenience of them. They are light-weight and big enough for me to grab with a glove on when we are training outside.

WHAT ABOUT PORK!?

Is pork actually safe to feed dogs?

Turns out pork is actually safe to feed dogs. There is an undercurrent in the dog world that pork should not be fed to dogs. Do some reading, you will see that pork is just like any other meat. If inspected properly and safe for humans, it is safe for dogs. That being said, it is always important to honor if your dog isn't interested in a specific protein. As mentioned above, dogs have an innate way of telling us that they don't feel good when they eat something, or that it isn't something that their body wants. If they are otherwise healthy and they are saying no to a certain protein, I trust it.

How to tell if my dog is overweight

Weight is a delicate topic in the human world, but it shouldn't be in the animal world. Animals that rely on us should be kept at a healthy weight so they can have their best quality of life.

If you can't distinctly feel all of your dogs ribs they are overweight.

When you pet your dog, if you can grab huge chunks of skin, this is fat accumulating in the superficial fascia layer and not muscle.

Here is a great example of how to visually determine an ideal body weight for health, happiness, less pain, and greater longevity.

Keep in mind that fat packs around the joints and organs. If your dog is struggling with mobility, like jumping on and off of the couch or getting up off of the floor, it might help to help them lose a few of those extra pounds.

CAN DOGS REALLY EAT RAW MEAT?

Recent science shows that incorporating raw food as at least 20% of our dog's diet will improve health outcomes and help prevent the onset and progression of disease over the course of their lives. What do dogs in nature eat? Dead animals, poop, plants and dirt. Dry dog food digests differently than raw dog food. That being said, try feeding raw treats separate from your pup's dry dog food, especially when you are first introducing it. There are many dogs that have never eaten raw food, but they are designed to digest it. There are many great resources online that can guide and direct you in your understanding of dog nutrition. One recent publication with all the new science on the topic is FEEDING DOGS by Dr. Conor Brady. Dr. Karen Becker also has a recent publication THE FOREVER DOG. These are the top specialists in the field and their work is exceptional. The Whole Dog Journal is another great resource, as is Dog's Naturally Magazine. Peter Dobias and Marty Goldstein are two more holistic Veterinarians who can inform you on your raw-fed journey.