What Are High Value Treats? (updated 1/2/2024)

The term high value treat is used frequently in dog training, but what exactly makes a treat high value? The short answer is flavor. To be high value a treat has to be more important to the dog than whatever distraction is going on around them. When you are working with your dog in the living room or back yard with no distractions, kibble would likely work just fine. When you are at the park surrounded by people, running children and other dogs, a treat has to be much more interesting to keep the dog's attention.

Meme courtesy of At Attention Dog Training.

This is why dog trainers will tell you to practice at home until the dog has mastered the behavior, then head to the park to "proof" the behavior with distractions. It is also important to increase the value of your treats as you increase the distraction level.

I like to use freeze dried foods as training treats. They are small, flavorful and since they are nutritionally complete they are a wonderful part of my dog's daily diet. On days we are doing a lot of training I can subtract from regular meals without sacrificing nutrition. These treats come in a variety of proteins so you can change up flavors to keep your dog interested. Freeze dried meat treats are another good choice. You can cut them to the right size for your dog if you need to. Many trainers swear by cheese, either string cheese cut into small pieces or block cheese will work, too.

Treat size and consistency matter too. It is very helpful in training if your dog doesn't have to stop and chew the treat.  A small, soft treat is a great reward but it doesn't break up the flow of training. These treats also hold up well in your pocket or treat pouch, so you aren't fumbling to get one out. Timing is very important in training, when your dog does something great you want to let them know. There is nothing worse than reaching for a treat and only finding dust in your pocket!

We carry a great variety of training treats, please come in and talk to us. No matter the size or age of your dog, we can help you make a great choice. 

CBD Oil For Pets

I started hearing about CBD oil well over a year ago and started researching its uses. I am a bit of a cynic about new products and won’t bring something in to the Grateful Dog Bakery until I verify it through independent sources. What I found was that people either raved about how well it worked or said it didn’t work at all. Further research showed me that the best results were coming from a full spectrum molecule product with a high concentration of CBD per dose. The more I read the more sense it made. The full spectrum molecule is able to attach to receptors in the body and brain to relieve pain, anxiety and a host of other problems.

Once I figured out how the product worked it was time to start researching companies. While there are many products made specifically for pets I settled on the Clean Remedies Company for several reasons. Their product is grown in Oregon, organic and vegan with no use of any pesticides. The thing that really sold me on the product was that their pet product and human product are one in the same, simply packaged with different dosing instructions. Their product is tested by independent labs and the results are made public to verify it is what they say it is. Finally their staff is very well educated and happy to answer any questions in plain English.

I take pride in the fact there is no product in my store that I won’t give to my own dogs. Beau, our 12 year old golden retriever, has arthritis in his hips and spine so I started giving it to him twice a day. Ophelia, another golden, is storm phobic, so I also gave it to her for thunderstorms. I am happy to say she seemed much calmer with the CBD oil. Beau is more mobile, spending more time out strolling the yard than he has in the last couple years. Finally, since I also have arthritis myself I started taking it. I can’t say I am completely pain free but I am a lot more comfortable, especially after a long day at the baking table.

The feedback I am getting from customers is very positive. Dogs with arthritis are more mobile, anxious dogs are calmer. One customer giving it to her dog who was having seizures reports no seizure activity in the 3 months since the dog started taking it. Prior to that the dog was still having 1-2 seizures a week even while on anti-seizure medication. The owner will be talking to her vet about decreasing the medication dosage with hopes of weaning it off entirely.

All in all CBD Oil is a product I am confident in recommending.