Training Adventure Dogs

It is no secret that many trainers recommend utilizing food rewards to reinforce desired behaviors. We are no different, as relationship based dog trainers – our primary goal when working with any dog and their owner is to strengthen the bond between them; one of the ways that makes a significant difference in obtaining that goal is to have clear communication. Part of that communication is utilizing food rewards for desired behaviors.

As certified canine nutritionists, we are believe that how your dog feels when training and their energy in everyday activities is directly related to what they eat. Choosing treats may feel like a seemingly small and unimportant decision but this small but conscience choice that you make has a big impact on their overall health and wellness.

So, what food rewards do we recommend to our clients for training?

We don’t recommend using treats. Too many treat brands are just junk food for dogs that have low quality ingredients – high in brewers yeast, fillers & sugars. These types of treats can cause digestion issues, allergic reactions & aid in obesity.

We recommend our clients use Freeze Dried Dog Food instead of treats in training and for rewards to boost your dog’s nutrition and aid in their overall health, we promise it’s worth a few extra bucks!

Rawwble is one of our absolute favorite food rewards because:

• we have literally never met a dog who doesn’t love them!
• high quality, whole ingredients that boost your dog’s overall nutrition
• perfect bite sized reward for small to large breeds
• they are not messy, keeping your hands clean whenever you reward your dog
• lightweight and easy to carry until you’re ready to reward!
• as a balanced dog food, you can use Rawwble as a meal replacement anytime that you use it for rewards to help combat obesity and over-feeding!

1. A wide mouth treat pouch for easy access to your food rewards. It makes a world of difference in your timing and delivery of rewards. Here are our two favorites:
   • Petsafe Treat Pouch
   • Ruffwear Treat Pouch
2. A training leash. We always have our clients put provide structure in every training session by utilizing a slip leash. This also creates clearer communication during your sessions. We always recommend starting with a slip leash. Here are our two favorites:
   • Mendota 3/8′ slip leash
   • Sidekick Leash
3. High quality and healthy food rewards to motivate your dog in training. We recommend Freeze Dried Dog Food or Dehydrated Raw Dog Food. Here are our top recommendations based on the quality of ingredients and size for rewarding your dog:
   • For Rawwble: use our code: ADVENTUREDOGS for 15% off on your entire order of any of their products
   • Vital Essentials
   • Open Farm
   • K9 Naturals

Here are tips for first timers feeding Freeze Dried or Dehydrated Food

• Start with the same protein as their current food. We do recommend rotating proteins though so, when you are ready to branch out – choose a similar protein and slowly add in alternatives
  • Lean protein: Chicken, Turkey, Lamb
  • Fattier protein: Beef, Duck, Salmon
• Prevent over-feeding and manage the risk of obesity by using as a meal replacement. This means, if you feed your dog one cup of kibble per meal, but you fed your dog 1/2 cup of Freeze Dried Food – you should only feed 1/2 cup of kibble for the next meal
• Always make sure your dog has water after eating Freeze Dried or Dehydrated Food. They contain very little moisture so it’s important that your dog is able to rehydrate

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