Pilchards in Brine - Is this OK?

[Max X 2]

Sine reading that some of you feed your dogs pilchards, Max now has a weekly treat of Pilchards in tomatoe sauce.
I've noticed that I've bought a tin that are in brine by mistake    Is it OK to feed him this?

Also...Training Treats.  At training Max has chicken, last week he was more interested in what everyone else had, but then he wasn't the only one.  So - Hot Dogs?  I've never bought them but when I looked in the shop the other day I noticed there was a wide selection.  Are there some that are more suitable than others/any to avoid?  I guess I'd need to heat them through 1st 

I think I might also give him the occasional bit of cheese too.  I never have done in the past as my OH read in a book that it isn't good for them, but I've since read that alot of people give it as a training treat.  Who's right?

Thanks in advance.

[*Jay*]

Whenever I've picked up pilchards in brine by mistake (on more than one occasion!!), I just drain it all off before giving it too them.

As for the training treats, you can use anything really. I've used hot dogs in the past - just a bog standard tin with all the juices drained chopped up into small pieces. I don't heat them through - they just get them as they come. A lot of people at training use cheese - I would imagine that too much of it wouldnt be good for them but you really do only need to cut it into teeny bits.

I've started using a mixture of treats i my treat bag so that they never know what they are going to get. I like to think it keeps them interested!!

Have you tried liver cake / sardine cake / tuna bread??

[Cob-Web]

I buy the packs of 10 hotdog sausages from the refrigerated section in the supermarket; I but them when they are on BOGOF, and then slice them into tiny pieces so they last for ages  they are pre-cooked, so don't need to be heated 

[michelle123]

Hadnt thought about the brine situation, Blue & the cats shared a tin this morning    No need to wash his bowl it is sparkling 

Is the one in tomato sauce better ?   

[cazza]

I've started using a mixture of treats i my treat bag so that they never know what they are going to get. I like to think it keeps them interested!!

never thought of mixing the treat bag - what a great idea 

Cheese I only use very tiny bits for returning to the whistle. (Altho now we are at the stage of treat only on an immediate response to the whistle  )

I use some of their food allowence of kibble for training with a clicker, and do this training before they are fed so they are hungry and even keener to please. It was suggested by the behaviourist I saw. to make them work for their food and train at the same time.  So i take a handful of their food and train and then they get the jack pot of breakfast or tea

[PennyB]

If mine ever get tinned fish I prefer to get them one that's in oil --- mackeral, sardine, tuna

Training treats I often use now are 'frolic' with a bit of cheese squashed in the hole in the middle --- these are the high value ones I reserve for new/difficult training, but out and about I just use webbox or schmackos, or just their normal kibble

[Joelf]

After reading the threads on here I've been using Primula cheese; Domino's not that keen on it but Spike absolutely loves it & it has the advantage of not making a mess on hands or coat pockets! 

It's very processed & when I've tasted it it leaves a rather unpleasant after taste but,hey, if it gets Spike to come back to me on walks it's got to be a good thing!!

[happydog]

Pilchards in brine: Too high in salt for a dog, tomato sauce/ sunflower oil would be better.
Training treats: Cheese in tiny amounts are OK. Again can be high in salt so not too much.
Have you tried making your own treats? Fern would sell her soul for the recipes on this site. No additives either 

http://www.itsaspringthing.co.uk/willows%20kitchen.htm

[Nicola]

I use the pilchards and sardines in tomato sauce or olive oil because of the salt content in brine as Happydog says.

I mix up their treat bag as well, I use Nature's Menu chicken treats, broken up gravy bones, tiny bits of cheese, bits of dried up tuna bread and bits of hot dog sausage all chucked in a ziploc bag so they get a lucky dip every time 

For Alfie's recall I use tiny bits of cheese as that's his favourite thing and also Primula sometimes as well. He ONLY gets a treat if he responds first time though and every so often when he responds first time he gets a 'jackpot' and a whole handful of cheese 

[Jan/Billy]

bits of dried up tuna bread

What's Tuna bread??? Billy loves tuna but have never heard of Tuna bread 

[Nicola]

bits of dried up tuna bread

What's Tuna bread??? Billy loves tuna but have never heard of Tuna bread 

It's so easy to make, it's basically eggs, flour, olive oil and tuna mixed up, spread over a plate and bunged in the microwave 

The recipe is in Willow's Kitchen on Spring Thing along with lots of other recipes 

[Jan/Billy]

bits of dried up tuna bread

What's Tuna bread??? Billy loves tuna but have never heard of Tuna bread 

It's so easy to make, it's basically eggs, flour, olive oil and tuna mixed up, spread over a plate and bunged in the microwave 

The recipe is in Willow's Kitchen on Spring Thing along with lots of other recipes 

ooohhh cheers for that. I'll take a look 

[PennyB]

bits of dried up tuna bread

What's Tuna bread??? Billy loves tuna but have never heard of Tuna bread 

It's so easy to make, it's basically eggs, flour, olive oil and tuna mixed up, spread over a plate and bunged in the microwave 

The recipe is in Willow's Kitchen on Spring Thing along with lots of other recipes 

My two have to compete with the cats for it as well

[jann]

  I'd prefer them in oil or sauce because of the salt content in the brine 
Rightly or wrongly, I also have a problem with hot dog sausage as these are highly processed and have a high salt and preservative content 

[supaspaniel]

I'd prefer them in oil or sauce because of the salt content in the brine 
Rightly or wrongly, I also have a problem with hot dog sausage as these are highly processed and have a high salt and preservative content 

I agree I gave those things to Harmy in his last days just to get him to have something, but the salt content was not good really