Getting a fussy dog interested in salmon treats

Salmon treats for picky dogs come with no promise, because no treat wins over every dog. What you can do is give salmon a fair try: one small snapped piece, offered by hand at a quiet moment, once. If it is refused, put it away and try another day.

If a dog is refusing meals, losing weight or has suddenly changed how it eats, skip the treat experiments and call your veterinarian. That is a medical question, not a treat question.

Why try salmon with a picky dog?

The honest reasons are about the product, not about your dog. Our freeze-dried pink salmon pouch has one ingredient, wild-caught salmon, freeze-dried raw in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania. You know exactly what you are offering, so a no is a no to salmon and not to something mixed in.

We also label salmon a "high value" reward in our own scorecard, where it gets four out of five for training value. That is the store's rating, not a fact about dogs. Your dog gets a vote, and it is the only vote that counts.

The pieces snap small, which suits a dog that wants to sniff before committing. A tiny bit is easier to offer than a big one.

How do you offer the first piece?

Keep it low key, with no coaxing. Here is the routine.

1. Snap off a small bit, a fraction of a piece.
2. Choose a quiet moment, not right before a walk or with other treats around.
3. Offer it from your open hand and let your dog decide.
4. Do it once, then put the pouch away.
5. If it is refused, leave it, and try again another day.

Wash your hands afterward with soap and water. The salmon is raw before freeze-drying. The bag says: "Wash your hands after handling it." For anything else on raw handling, the product page covers it, and your veterinarian can answer the rest.

What if your dog sniffs it and walks away?

Let it walk. There is no need to push the piece closer or follow your dog with it. Salmon smells like fish, which some dogs find thrilling and some find odd, and a sniff and a retreat is a perfectly good answer for that day.

You can try a smaller piece, a different time of day or a quieter room. Try changing one thing at a time, so you know what made the difference.

Freeze-dried salmon is also not the only seafood we sell. The seafood sampler holds three single-ingredient bags: salmon, shrimp and blue-lipped mussels. If you try more than one, try them one at a time, not all together, so you can tell what your dog thinks of each.

Can a few crumbs on a meal help a fussy eater try it?

Crumbs let your dog meet the salmon as part of a normal meal rather than as a test. The product listing says to crumble a piece over kibble or a raw meal, and that is all we will say about the how; the product page has the details and the treat budget calculator.

We make no claim that crumbs will change how your dog eats. They are a treat, and they count toward the treat allowance like any other. The bag says the pouch is not a complete diet, so the regular food stays the main event.

When is picky eating a question for your vet?

Early and plainly: when it is new, when it is getting worse, or when it comes with other changes. A dog that stops eating meals, loses weight or has a sudden shift in habits needs a veterinarian, and no flavor will substitute for that.

A dog that has always been choosy about treats and is otherwise bright and well is a different case. That dog is just expressing a preference, and you are allowed to find it funny.

For more on using salmon as a reward once your dog is on board, see the guide to salmon training treats, or browse the guides hub.