Dog Community

How many treats do your dogs get per day?

Posted : 6/4/2006 1:16:51 AM

I would like some opinions on this, DH and I are having a little tiff.

I think a lot of you know Willow is a very fussy eater and will stop eating for a few days, etc.

So, right now, she's eating really well. She hasn't missed a meal in a few days. DH wants to fatten her up, which she does need. He's wanting to give her a treat every time one of us gets up to go into the kitchen. Me, I'd rather she eat her meals and have a snack if I'm leaving for work and a snack before bed. Not, every time we move.

What do you guys do?

dyan

Posted : 6/4/2006 7:30:06 AM

Personally, I think that giving her a snack everytime you get up to go in the kitchen is a bad idea, because of a few reasons. First, what do you do when you don't want to fatten her up anymore? And it is something for her to come to expect. Plus, if it were Bubblegum, she would probably bug the heck out of us to get up and go into the kitchen,,,she gets real "pushy" before suppertime. I swear she can tell time! Maybe you can add a little more to her food for a while? Like maybe add something more on top?
For snacks, Bubblegum gets them only after she goes outside to do her business...and of course she expects (and gets) one everytime she goes outside and back in.....but I buy Eagle Pack snacks and break them in half or even 3s and give her only one! She is kind of skinny, I suppose I shouldn't break them up. But for you, when giving Willow a snack, maybe give her a larger one?????

glenmar

Posted : 6/4/2006 7:44:14 AM

I'm with you Lori. Treats are for special stuff, not fattening a dog up.

Suzi

Posted : 6/4/2006 8:05:58 AM

I buy all sorts of new mini treats. Sometimes I even cut them up in half and so JJ get smaller portion. I give her one whenever she goes potty, does the right thing or responds to my command.

Debbi

Posted : 6/4/2006 9:40:42 AM

Aw, the treat debate! LOL My dh loves to give mine treats. He is always sneaking some to them. I only give them something right before I leave for work in the am and after I groom them. But little pieces.
I think mine would love to come to your house, as they LOVE treats. Hmm dh JUST gave mine flossies. And I just GAVE them a treat! LOL

Suzi

Posted : 6/4/2006 10:50:32 AM

I only have one dog but I buy tons of treats, hehehehe! Would be happy to share some with you ziggynemo. [&:] Treat shopping is fun, other then toy shopping. It's because I'm always in search for mini treats for JJ. [

]

shamrockmommy

Posted : 6/4/2006 1:26:30 PM

1-3 treats a day, usually.

Edie

Posted : 6/4/2006 7:09:14 PM

One of my dogs is overweight because i couldnt resist the pleading eyes everytime i went into the kitchen followed closely by 4 plodding feet.NOW he expects a treat everytime i wander near the treat cupboard,it drives me mental and i would NOT recommend this at all!
If you want to fatten her up,why not mix the treats into her normal food?This will help entice her to eat and also add calories.Otherwise save the 'straight' treats for a morning snack,after she's "finished" her food and most importantly,before bed time,late night eating is almost guaranteed to pack on the pounds.If she needs the weight gain,get as many as you can into her without making her too full to eat her normal food...

Mine now get treats after they get their pills(supplements,fish oil caps etc),after their dinner(only if they finish) and a raw bone,flossie etc in the evenings.

smilee1079

Posted : 6/4/2006 8:01:49 PM

I give Zoe a treat when we crate her (and lately it has been a half piece) and that kind of treat is only for when crated. Then if she goes to bathroom esp. fast or does something good I give a treat, but not for every potty. Those treats are usually just pieces too since she is little. Usually she gets a small treat right after her last potty of the night too!

the_gunny

Posted : 6/4/2006 11:09:27 PM

I say that giving a treat, just for the sake of giving of a treat on a regular basis could undermine some training. The cue, going to kitchen will be conditioned to getting a treat. this is not a huge problem but could be a nuisance when you want to stop this treating. instead, i may be would carry the treats on me and treat at random intervals or for a job well done.
But what i really think that is a dog on the lean side is healthier than a dog on the heavy side.

marlania

Posted : 6/4/2006 11:59:50 PM

I don't really give treats with any kind of regularity, and when I do give it, it's usually a fresh vegetable from the guinea pigs' veggies. They really love when I restock on veggies because they get a few odd things those days.

Tess

Posted : 6/5/2006 9:29:37 AM

Call me "Cruellla"...... but we don't give Ricky any treats,
just his food spread out 5 times a day. He has a sensitive
digestion track and when we give something other then
his food it throws him off.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/5/2006 9:47:43 AM

It depends on the day. If we're out and about, I carry treats to make myself more interesting. Some days, we have long (like 30 minutes) training sessions, with a handful of tiny treats (usually kibble or something that size). Most days, they get a treat when I leave, and one at bed time (2-3 times a day). Of course, meals are adjusted to the amount of treats given, and sometimes they get treats for the sake of treats (last night, they each got a section of carrot while I was cooking my dinner, just for fun).

mudpuppy

Posted : 6/5/2006 2:21:15 PM

I almost never give treats, certainly not on a daily basis. Treats are reserved for training classes, competitions, or jackpots for a dog who finally mastered something really difficult. I do feed up to 100% of the day's ration of food by hand as rewards for good behavior. Pups especially, I try hard to never feed them out of a bowl. Food in a bowl is hundreds of positive reinforcement possibities lost.
With a low-appetite dog, wouldn't feeding tasty treats just make the dog less likely to eat real meals?

dogslyfe

Posted : 6/5/2006 2:25:45 PM

My dogs get food 2x a day, treats if we're training - most important for new behavior, and treats going into their kennels on the rare occasion that I remember them (or if I have to perform some dastardly deed, such as applying frontline). Other than that, nada. If I gave them treats every time I moved, I'd be getting mugged all the time.