Cheese & dogs
4th June 2024 was National Cheese Day. And that got me thinking about cheese.
And the power of high value rewards. To be honest, I liked it as an excuse to
talk about cheese! A lot of dogs find cheese very tasty so it can really help
motivate your dog when you're working on any kind of training. But is it bad for
them?
Cheese is a high calorie, but tasty, treat for lots of dogs.
My dog Bodie LOVES cheese. He's a big fan of traditional strong cheddar.
But it is one to use sparingly! Because it's high calorie, it is one to avoid
for dogs that are overweight. For dogs with a weight problem, there are plenty
of other tasty "healthier" alternatives.
High fat cheese can cause an upset tummy (sickness and diarrhoea). If they've
not had it before, try a small amount and see how they are.
If your dog accidentally eats a large amount, or you are worried about them,
always contact your vet.
Get the value without all the calories.
You can dice cheese fairly small - the more small pieces you have, the more
opportunities you have to reward and reinforce when your dog does something that
you like.
You can also dice the cheese and leave it to dry out a little in a pot of dry
food/kibble.
The cheese dries out a bit and can be easier to handle. And the kibble/dry food
can take on some of the smell of cheese making it more appealing.
Being able to use a dog's daily food for some training rewards is a great thing.
It is such a shame to waste all this value in a bowl in the corner of your
kitchen.
Save the high-value rewards for the things they find harder.
Some things are more difficult for your dog to learn. Some behaviours are more
important than others to work on.
Use your highest value rewards for these things. You want your dog to be really
motivated to try and work out what you want them to do. Popular choices are
chicken, cheese, hotdog and dried liver. But some dogs will do anything for a
piece of carrot!
Imagine if you were getting paid £20/hour for one job and had the chance to work
for £200/hour doing something else. Which would you be more motivated to do to
your best for?
Cheese can also be really useful to get a tablet swallowed easily for a lot of
dogs.
But remember, rewards don't always have to be food; it can be a favourite toy, a
game or just an ear scratch/belly rub.
"Junk" food?
I have been known to have a tube of squeezy cheese in my pocket for mess-free
rewards (and amazing focus on me) on the go.
You can also spread a small amount inside a hoof, on a lick mat, or in a canine
enrichment toy like a Kong. This can help keep them busy and calm them down.
Freeze them to make them last longer if your dog doesn't get frustrated with
foods that are too hard to get to.
When trying any new food introduce it in very small quantities to see how your
dog gets on with it. A runny tummy is not what we're going for!
Cheesy no-nos.
If your dog is allergic or intolerant of lactose, or often has a runny tummy,
cheese is one to avoid.
Cheese can also be high in salt, so also needs to be avoided for dogs with
kidney problems.
Please avoid giving dogs blue cheese. The mould can make them very sick.
Also, avoid cheese that has any added ingredients that aren't safe for dogs -
watch out for things like garlic, onions and herbs.
Please note, I am not a canine nutritionist, and this is my thoughts on cheese,
based on my personal experience only.
Does your dog love cheese?
The hoof I mention is a cow's hoof which is widely available.