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.
