As long as I've been training, dogs have been going absolutely NUTS for freeze dried liver. However, if you train a lot, or if you go through treats quickly (like me!), then you know freeze dried liver is a pretty hefty investment. If you buy the real stuff, the best deal is at Ryan's, but you have to buy it in bulk, and hope your $30 worth of dog treats doesn't get burglarized. (Or worse, that it spills in your car, and you don't notice until you return with the windows up on a hot day. Talk about disgusting smells...)
Anyway, since I hand out treats freely in class, and since almost every dog LOVES this stuff, I decided to make my own. I, like most people, do not have access to a freeze drier, but I can dehydrate things! If you have a dehydrator, it makes this task super easy; but if you don't, all you need is a few baking pans and an oven.
Go to your local supermarket, and look in the meat aisle. They should sell beef livers, chicken livers, and sometimes "gizzards and hearts". YUM! (puke!) I prefer the chicken livers, because they're already small and I don't have to cut the stinky stuff.
Arrange them in a single layer on a baking pan, or in a dehydrator, and bake at 175 for about 8 hours. (I leave them in overnight.) If using a dehydrator, you may have to leave them for 12-16 hours, depending on your settings. You want them to be crispy, so they won't go bad when you take them out for training.
By now you should notice that your entire house smells horrible. (Don't worry, it will go away!) If you plan on making these treats often, I suggest you pick up a cheap dehydrator at Goodwill, and start making these outside. (With your dogs secured INSIDE, of course, LOL!)
Since they are dehydrated, they should keep at room temperature, no problem. I prefer to keep them in the fridge in a ziplock bag until ready for use, just to be on the safe side.
There you go! Super cheap, super easy, and your dogs will love you forever! :)
PS You can do the same thing with salmon, (my dogs love!), but don't use a dehydrator. The meat leaks too much during the dehydrating process and will short out your machine! But salmon smells good, so it's oven-worthy!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
How to teach your dog SPIN!
Spin is a cute trick that is easy to learn and helps dogs burn off extra energy. The goal is to teach your dog to spin around themselves in a tight circle.
When you teach a new trick, you always want to lure your dog through the motion before you give it a name. Start with your dog standing up and put a treat in front of their nose. Without saying anything, take the treat and slowly lure the dog in a circle. If your dog sits or doesn't follow, use praise to encourage them to follow the treat. (Hint: it helps GREATLY if you use your right hand to spin the dog counter-clockwise, and your left hand to spin the dog clockwise). When first learning, try both directions to see if your dog has a favorite. Once they pick a direction, stick with that one direction until they master it; then you can teach the opposite.
ADDING THE WORD: When your dog follows the lure consistently, you are ready to add the word! I use "Spin" for one direction (counter clockwise) and "Unwind" for the opposite (clockwise), but they are also directed with hand motions. My dogs can determine which direction to turn by which hand I use. See above: right hand for counterclockwise, left for clockwise.
When adding the word, start with your dog in a sit or stand. Warm them up with a few "spin lures" to let them know which action you are looking for. Ask them to "spin" and whip your hand around in an exaggerated circle (the same direction you want your dog to spin in). If your dog doesn't move, or if they attempt but stop halfway, give them a verbal correction (UHUH!) and immediately lure them. Once they finish the spin, praise and treat. Continue practicing until they can perform without the lure.
Hints:
Make sure your dog masters one direction fully before you teach the opposite. Skipping ahead will make your dog confused and they will not consistently spin the proper direction.
A lot of people want to teach their dog to spin multiple times. This is fine, however, not in the beginning. You want to make sure your dog knows the motion is to spin in a circle, then stop for further instructions. Once they are experts, you can teach them to continue spinning until you say "Ok!" to release, or "Stop".
Ava and Carl demonstrating Spin and Unwind:
Alright, that's it! Go practice! If you have questions or need help, leave a comment! Once your dog masters it, show off with a video-response or picture!!
When you teach a new trick, you always want to lure your dog through the motion before you give it a name. Start with your dog standing up and put a treat in front of their nose. Without saying anything, take the treat and slowly lure the dog in a circle. If your dog sits or doesn't follow, use praise to encourage them to follow the treat. (Hint: it helps GREATLY if you use your right hand to spin the dog counter-clockwise, and your left hand to spin the dog clockwise). When first learning, try both directions to see if your dog has a favorite. Once they pick a direction, stick with that one direction until they master it; then you can teach the opposite.
 |
| Start by getting your pup interested in the treat |
 |
| Lure them around... |
 |
| Continue practicing until your dog is comfortable making a tight turn around themselves! |
When adding the word, start with your dog in a sit or stand. Warm them up with a few "spin lures" to let them know which action you are looking for. Ask them to "spin" and whip your hand around in an exaggerated circle (the same direction you want your dog to spin in). If your dog doesn't move, or if they attempt but stop halfway, give them a verbal correction (UHUH!) and immediately lure them. Once they finish the spin, praise and treat. Continue practicing until they can perform without the lure.
Hints:
Make sure your dog masters one direction fully before you teach the opposite. Skipping ahead will make your dog confused and they will not consistently spin the proper direction.
A lot of people want to teach their dog to spin multiple times. This is fine, however, not in the beginning. You want to make sure your dog knows the motion is to spin in a circle, then stop for further instructions. Once they are experts, you can teach them to continue spinning until you say "Ok!" to release, or "Stop".
Ava and Carl demonstrating Spin and Unwind:
Alright, that's it! Go practice! If you have questions or need help, leave a comment! Once your dog masters it, show off with a video-response or picture!!
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