CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Feeding => Topic started by: Rubenkhan on September 24, 2010, 10:37:51 PM
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Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum,infact I'm new to all things cocker spaniel! Just wondering what treats are good for an 8 week old pup ? He is on Pro-plan 3 times a day as instructed by the breeder,but I would now like to start teaching him some commands. Is it ok to give hime peanut butter at this age and if so does it have to unsalted and smooth? Can you reccommend other training treats suitable for his age?
The breeder said I can give him veg mixed in his kibble,but is there any sort of veg that you have found unagreeable? Also,can I give him fruit and what type?
I was told he can have scrambled egg too!
Looking forward to feeding my lil baby some tasties! :D :luv:
Oh,he seems to like snoozing alot,is this normal?
Thanks
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Although its not something i've tried, i've read on COL that using bits of thier own kibble as training treats is good when they are this little. And as for the snoozing, very normal as hes a growing baby. Enjoy it, you'll need every spare minute you have when hes running round more! :005:
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Although its not something i've tried, i've read on COL that using bits of thier own kibble as training treats is good when they are this little.
Yup, that's what I did with Alfie.
We bought some Puppy Coachies as well, but he wasn't overkeen on them at the start, as I think he found them hard to crunch.
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http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-treats-fish4dogs-snacks-c-223_601_617/fish4dogs-super-star-treats-50g-p-3098
and http://www.dogtraininginfo.co.uk/little-liver-treats.html
a lot of treats you can buy in pet shops are limited to a tiny amount per day so the above along with kibble are good for when you need to use a few i.e. if you are clicker training.
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thanks everyone, does clicker training work? so ,you basically click and feed a treat everytime they do something you want?
As you may have noticed, i haven't a clue!
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We used regular kibble as training treats for Morgan initially, we just used part of his normal daily allowance. After a few weeks we started buying Nature's Menu treats, small, log-shaped meaty treats that we cut into smaller pieces, it helped to have something a little bit tastier at puppy classes to try to help keep him focussed (wish it had worked better though! :lol2:)
I can't remember when we started giving him peanut butter but we didn't do it for quite a while, and yes, unsalted is definitely best. We now buy tubs of it at Holland and Barrett's, it's salt and sugar free.
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For training in and around the house, using the kibble is ideal - but as Elaine says, outside or for very important things (like recall) it can be useful to use something tastier!
We used small peices of cheese, or cooked sausage for puppy classes, and that went down well.
Clicker training is great - it basically works as a clear cue that they have done something right. You need to be confident on your timing - if you are training a "sit" it is better to click just before they put their bum on the ground rather than just as they are getting up again. And you need to be sure you ALWAYS reward for a click, even if you have clicked in error. Take a look at this site for some hints on getting started and where you can go in future! http://www.clickersolutions.com/ (http://www.clickersolutions.com/)
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After a few weeks we started buying Nature's Menu treats.
We give all our dogs Nature's menu treats :D
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For training in and around the house, using the kibble is ideal - but as Elaine says, outside or for very important things (like recall) it can be useful to use something tastier!
We used small pieces of cheese, or cooked sausage for puppy classes, and that went down well.
I like using Cheesestrings for recall and at puppy classes, because it already comes in packaging, is clean and practical to use, and is also not too smelly. The one time I used frankfurters for training treats Alfie wouldn't leave my side and kept jumping up - it was as if frankfurters were just *too* exciting a prospect!
Whereas the Cheesestrings achieves the same purpose (he loves his cheese and his recall is really sharp for it!) without the pong and the excess attention!
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You guys are brilliant! thanks,I didn't know I could give him cheese! :P
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I use natures menu treats for recall they are very cheap and the dogs love them. I might have to try cheese strings though, thanks for the heads up mooching ;)
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Rubenkhan, I'd recommend just very little bits though, and I personally resrerve cheese for recall and things like "leave".
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I make tuna bread for Freddie, got the recipe from Willows Kitchen website but can't get it to work now. I can PM you the recipe or re-post here. Freddie has a sensitive tum but has always been fine with the tuna bread. Use small cubes of cheese for recall. ;)
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Rubenkhan
What variety of Puppy Pro Plan is Ruben on?
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Its called Purina proplan opti-start, have looked on the pack for what flavour but it doesn't say. The breeder gave it to me. Is it any good?
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Have a look at the ingredients on the pack - it should say there!! Look for any named meat content. :D
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Purina Pro Plan puppy do Chicken and Rice - main ingredient 20% chicken and also a Lamb one main ingredient 21%.
A lot of breeders wean their puppies on Purina Pro Plan - it is expensive compared to a lot of other brands but puppies generally do very well on this food.
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The reason I was asking was that if Ruben's kibble is, say, chicken flavour, you could get another variety/flavour of kibble (samples are good for this) to use as his treats (I mean a different brand too). That way, it's special and different, but still gentle on his tum.
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The reason I was asking was that if Ruben's kibble is, say, chicken flavour, you could get another variety/flavour of kibble (samples are good for this) to use as his treats (I mean a different brand too). That way, it's special and different, but still gentle on his tum.
Would have been so much easier to say that in the first place rather than the OP having to go look at the ingredients for you. :-\
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Jeanette, I was getting ready for puppy class at the time (midday start), and didn't think to say it all at once, especially as Ruben and I were (I thought) just chatting about it. :dunno:
Sorry, Rubenkhan, if I've put you to any inconvenience.
(It is however IMO a good thing to know exactly what your pup is eating)
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Re; treats. I got fed up with picking up packets that clearly stated "for puppies" or even had it as part of the product name only to find in small print on the back, "not uitable for dogs less than 12 weeks old". Eventually I asked the staff at the PetsAtHome store and they showed me a couple of brands that were specifically for under 12 weeks old. Sorry but I can't remember the names.
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Re; treats. I got fed up with picking up packets that clearly stated "for puppies" or even had it as part of the product name only to find in small print on the back, "not uitable for dogs less than 12 weeks old". Eventually I asked the staff at the PetsAtHome store and they showed me a couple of brands that were specifically for under 12 weeks old. Sorry but I can't remember the names.
Before we got Alfie, I bought some rice-based treats which said suitable for puppies over 4 weeks old, but they were so HARD Alfie couldn't manage them and would just spit them out. It wasn't until he was 12 or 13 weeks that he started to be able to cope with them.
I bought some Puppy Coachies, which were better, but still quite hard (he would sometimes eat them, sometimes not).
It was just far simpler to use kibble as treats. Burns Mini Bites was especially good as the kibble is small.
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Jeanette, I was getting ready for puppy class at the time (midday start), and didn't think to say it all at once, especially as Ruben and I were (I thought) just chatting about it. :dunno:
Sorry, Rubenkhan, if I've put you to any inconvenience.
(It is however IMO a good thing to know exactly what your pup is eating)
Apologies didn't mean to butt in on a private chat, its the one sentence questions which threw me.
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Apologies didn't mean to butt in on a private chat, its the one sentence questions which threw me.
Not a private chat - this is a public forum after all! And, as I said, I was to-ing and fro-ing, as I often am, and getting ready for puppy class at the time, so not thinking very comprehensively.
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So I get the 'give kibble as treats ' bit, but the rest of the chat I kinda lost my way,lol { what were you all talking about? :huh: lol
Anyway,I have been mainly training using kibble,but today I used some chicken breast meat and cooked carrots from our tuesday roast![we have sunday dinner on a tues! :lol2:} He loved it! I even added bits of chicken and carrot and swede to his kibble and he licked his bowl clean! Its the first time sonce we've had him he's eaten his whole meal! Must be so boring for the poor wee things eating the same brown shades again and again!
Oh,maybe I should ask you all another question?? I gave Ruben some fish4dogs mini treats in the morning around 10am whilst teaching me 'watch' and he's been totally nuts today,like a wee devil >:D wanting to bit chew and basically destroy anything in reach! He was also running up and down the kitchen with an insane look in his eyes! Scared me to honest, :o lol,I know he may only be playing,but do you think certain food can make a dog 'HYPER' ?
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So I get the 'give kibble as treats ' bit, but the rest of the chat I kinda lost my way,lol { what were you all talking about? :huh: lol
I was just suggesting that if you wanted to vary his treats at all, a safe way would be to get some puppy kibble samples that were a different flavour to the one you're using for his meals.
Anyway,I have been mainly training using kibble,but today I used some chicken breast meat and cooked carrots from our tuesday roast![we have sunday dinner on a tues! :lol2:} He loved it! I even added bits of chicken and carrot and swede to his kibble and he licked his bowl clean! Its the first time sonce we've had him he's eaten his whole meal! Must be so boring for the poor wee things eating the same brown shades again and again!
It's great to give them a little variety now and again, but giving them variety too often when they're pups can lead to them becoming fussy and to *expect* to have extras all the time.
When you give him his Pro Plan (plain), are you giving it to him dry or softened with a little hot water? A little hot water poured on just as it's served releases the aroma and makes it more palatable to them.
Oh,maybe I should ask you all another question?? I gave Ruben some fish4dogs mini treats in the morning around 10am whilst teaching me 'watch' and he's been totally nuts today,like a wee devil >:D wanting to bit chew and basically destroy anything in reach! He was also running up and down the kitchen with an insane look in his eyes! Scared me to honest, :o lol,I know he may only be playing,but do you think certain food can make a dog 'HYPER' ?
I'm not sure about that, he might just have been a bit excited! Sounds a bit like the (in)famous "Wall of Death" run that cockers and other dogs like to do sometimes!
Rubenkhan, I'd suggest you only try him on one new thing each day - otherwise, if his tummy gets upset, it will be hard to work out what has caused it. The chicken is unlikely to upset his tum, but the swede and carrot could, and even the fish treats could. Also, watch out for the quantity of treats you give in a day, for two reasons: firstly, that if we give a lot of different treats, it could make them fussy and want only treats and not his food; secondly, too many new treats in one day could upset their tums. It's also advisable to compensate for treats given by slightly cutting down on their daily food total, otherwise they could end up putting on too much weight too soon.