What treats do you use? - Page 3

Hot dogs for tracking like most people. 

BUT I use beef jerky (about $2 per serious session) for OB.  Hard but not dry, very alluring, and I can put my thumb down and have him bite off a piece of his own.  It also teaches them to put their teeth up to but not over my thumb which I find good for their self control.

I am also happier to have beef jerky in my mouth than hot dogs-- for fussing when you want to make a fuss out of eyes on face...

In my next life, I want to come back as sonora's dog.

For tracking, moist meat only, hotdogs or whatever I had leftover in the fridge from dinner. For Obedience I was using freeze-dried liver treats... till T found the bucket-container in the van last week... Somebody sent me a lot of Bil-Jac treats but I am finding some dogs don't like them.
Personally, I prefer using tugs for obedience  training if a dog will work as well for that. I tend to forget and leave greasy treats in my jacket pockets, later to find those pockets shredded, treats gone. I've lost so many nice parkas that way I now put the tracking bait in a small, stainless bucket, hung from wrist or on a belt loop with a double ended snap.

BTW- I learned a neat trick from Steve Miller last summer. We old folks get tired of bending over to place bait on tracks, but don't want to drop any to bounce off the track. Steve brought out a length of 1-1.5" PVC pipe, dropped the bait into the top to land right in the foot steps. Why didn't I think of that? I'm also going to make a tracking flag sling out of 3/4" pvc with a cap at the bottom, string sling handle, as I like to mark turns sometimes (with young dogs) by tossing a flag well ahead of and to the side of turns, to the sides of article placements, etc. in thick/taller grass. rough terrain.  Works fine for youngsters, but as they get better the older dogs do tend to leave the track to indicate the flags with my scent on them when the breeze it right. Can't blame them for that. Duhhhh...
Shelley is famous for losing tracks in the grass, trashing the entire session. LOL That's why I miss dirt tracking!

I've also done the cheap roast thing with some added garlic and the dogs love it. Something else I do that is relatively inexpensive (and would work well for those who like putting treats in their mouths ;)  ) is to make "mini meatballs" with ground beef: Boil water with some garlic cloves in it and throw little chunks of ground beef in the boiling water (I don't bother actually 'rolling' them into mini meatballs, as the chunks end up being pretty much being the same thing). They freeze great and its easy to make a huge batch that will last many training sessions.

I use the Natural balance too, primarily for tracking because it tends to crumble easily when I use it for anything else. The Zuked Mini Naturals are my current favorite, and Honest Kitchen make 3 flavors of tiny crunchy treats that my dogs like, too.

My friend uses cooked steak in pieces (you should see that dog work) I guess I would probably work for a good steak myself

I use freeze dried liver,chicken and venison. It does not mess w/her diet or add extra junk.