Freeze dried dog treats

As a dog trainer here in Vancouver I get asked alot of times "what is the best reward for training purposes?"
Well...I usually say "as little as possible" as what you want to do is use the treats to start of the reward system and then it should be just for the patting and kind words that a dog will obey.
For the puppies...its a different story....like kids they can be bought!
I will often use a very simple freeze dried liver treat as it seems to be very gentle on the stomach and dogs can eat alot without getting the poops from them. If your dog is reactive to wheat proteins then this is a great alternative for them. There are several on the market and I carry a few lines from only the best suppliers here at the Granville Island store however there are alternatives...
A lovely customer of ours here at Woofles and Meowz makes her own treats with the liver doing both a dehydrated version and a freeze dried one.
For a great dehydrated treat you must start with either a good dehydrater or use the oven to dry out the product on a very low temp...almost baking the liver pate.
She says to take as much beef liver as you like and make it into a pate in a food processor. Some people will add salt and/or other ingredients to the pate at this time but it is not necessary.
Simply spread the mixture on a flat baking pan no more than an half inch high and bake at 275-300 degrees until the mixture has shrunk and completely dried out. You can not overcook this mixture too much as it is all about getting all the water out of the liver while the temp kills any bacteria. I have usually cooked it for 2-2.5 hours but your oven may vary. Just MAKE SURE the product is completely dry.
After it is done simply break up the dried pieces and keep in a freezer.
I am not sure on the length of time it can be kept as it only lasts a few days around here. Use your best discretion.
OH! and major tip....open ALL the windows in the house when doing this as it is a smelly project!!! fair warning!
The freeze dried method is:
Take any cow or calf liver and boil for 30-45 minutes until fully cooked. Let cool and cut into dice sized pieces and lay out on a flat baking pan and put in a very cold freezer. Often the freezer in your fridge may have to be made colder as they are not as cold as say..a deep freezer. There IS a difference and what you want is the DRY cold of a freezer set on the coldest temp. After a week or so the product will be dried out and you can test this by taking one piece out and letting it thaw. If there is any water in it you will see it leak out. Dont be afraid to see the liver turn white in the freezer..this is normal. Dont keep for more than a couple of months as it does get too dry and unappetising for even the biggest food-hound.
Hope this works and oh: Disclaimer of course...wash all utensils and hands after using with raw ingredients...dont keep product too long.....dont use old liver from dinner that had onions or other spices that may not agree with FIDO and use only fresh liver. If unsure there are a variety of packs her at the store!
Cheers! and enjoy your freeze dried dog treats

Fall in Vancouver and Granville Island.

Ahh the leaves are changing and the air turns a bit clearer this time of year. Walks and talks and wrapping your hands around a nice cuppa something while you try to not spill it on the woolens you pulled from the closet are the things to do this time of year.
Woofles and Meowz sits pretty much at the entrance to our much visited Granville Island here in Vancouver and is often one of the first stops people will make while on those walks.
Often they are accompanied by one or more four footed friends in tow...or if we are baking here in the caboose just the other way around.
This is also the time of year when many people start thinking about some weather protection for their dog.
There are a few tips that I like to share regarding clothing for dogs:
1. If your dog is a purse-pooch who is used to wearing clothing for the fad and fashion of it then you are now at the time where warmth is the need and you will not notice so many smirks when taking FIFI for the morning constitutional.
2. Athletic people who take their dogs on extended walks and hikes need be aware that they will be clad in Gortex and fleece but REX wont be and a simple coat that keeps the wet off their back can make a world of difference.
3.As often as I talk to people about doggy shoes there are many times that I talk people OUT of buying these items for their dog. Dog shoes are great for those people who play in the snow or walk in areas where salt and calcium derivatives are used on roadways. This can be great protection against freezing paws and most sled teams use them in high snow/running areas but not so great if you are just running around the yard in mild temperatures.
4. Dogs lose their heat on their back so a simple coat can keep them warm even if not fully covering all areas.
5. There is a reason that many dog clothes dont cover the legs and lower extremities in that when wet a dog will get colder than if he can simple shed off the water instead of it being clad to his body from a hanging coat.
6.keep in mind that for some dogs an article of clothing will seem foreign and it may take a few times of wearing it inside for a few minutes to aclimate to it.
7. At Woofles and Meowz we like to ask about what the wee pooch is gonna DO while wearing said item so as to get the best use out of it.
8. Puppies and older dogs will benefit from a bit more protection than midlife dogs.
9.Clothing items that have some form of reflective or lighting in the make-up are well suited for running around the ever increasing darkening streets as the days get shorter moving toward winter.
........and finally......many dogs are imported here from very warm climes (like Chihuahuas) so clothes work well...while others simple can use their OWN fur coat if its just cold and not wet.