Looking for a Treat Recipe

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Hi friends, it's been awhile.

Since I lost Tucker last November, my sweet Tuckaboo, I've been pretty much absent. And sad. BUT, now there's Nina.

Nina, a 5-year-old GSD with EPI, will be coming to join our family in early April. Adjusting to our home will be pretty intense, I'm sure. We have four other dogs, and in addition to being left behind by a family she loves & meeting our dogs and us, she will also have to adjust to FL temperatures vs those in NJ. It's going to be a lot for her. I have a dog trainer friend to consult with, so I have already had lots of sound advice, but yummy treats are always part of the plan, to make positive connections.

SO, do any of you wonderful EPI moms & dads have any advice for giving treats? Are there any prepared treats available to buy, or does anyone have a recipe I could have? I always cheated with Tucker, but with all the stress Nina will be going through, I will want to be extra careful with her diet. Her current owner doesn't give her treats, but if I can work some enzymes into them, I think they'll be worth it.

Thanks!!! --- Pam

[Olesia711]

Hi Pam... so sorry for the delayed response... but for some reason i am having trouble responding on the forum tonight.... it spins forever and is almost painful to post !!!

ANyway... yes, we do have a treat section.... check it out .... the most recent one i like is to make your own treat and cover with an enzyme icing!
https://epi4dogs.com/treats/

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Thanks Olesia!

I was having the same issue with response time, so I only made a few searches. This morning, everything is lightning fast, so I'll go read that now! ---P

Editing & adding one question----The sweet potato curls listed last on the page. I don't see enzymes added to them. Is this correct, or am I skimming over them too fast?

I think the enzyme icing is brilliant, too.

[jilbert57]

Hi Pam! Thanks for adopting another Epi pup. I am sure Nina will fit into your pack quickly

Jill

[Olesia711]

Hi Pam,

Thanks so much for letting me know that you too were have super slow issues with the forum yesterday too!... and SOOooooo glad that today everything is super fast. I spoke to our web master last night and he made changes... glad that the changes worked beautifully

Okay. those sweet potato peels... that's from me... i would take a raw sweet potato and after peeling off the skin, i would just continue to peel the entire potato and then i dehydrated the peels. And "No" i did not include enzymes with these potato peels... However... all my dogs, including Izzy my EPI gal, only got a few pieces as a treat....so it wasn't much. BUT.... that being said, my Izzy was also able to have a tiny amount of certain "snacks" without enzymes included and she was fine.

NOt all EPI dogs can "cheat" with a tiny treat.... but once things settle with Nina you should try giving her a non-enzymed treat within 1 hr after an enzymed meal and see how she does. If all goes well.... then try giving a tiny treat 2 hrs or so away from an enzymed meal.... and just see how things go.

For example... when i was training Izzy tracking in Schutzhund we had to place a tret in each foot step... WELL... by testing and proofing things... i was able to put 1 piece of grain free kibble in 10 steps (not enzymes) .... but that was Izzy's limit... if i gave more, her stools would become loose. Each dog is different and you will simply have to "try" things a little at a time.....

BTW... i too LOVE the enzyme frosting!!!!!!!!

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Thanks for the details, Olesia.

Jill, I am so excited about Nina. Every time I have seen an EPI dog that needed rehoming, I've wondered how on earth that could be accomplished.

Well, now I know. Read a story about a family that really needs help, casually respond that you're in FL, and you wish it could happen but it would be impossible. Talk on the phone & make a connection, and hopefully you'll be speaking to a family that loves their dog so much, they schedule a spring break vacation around bringing her to you!

I sure hope she likes our pack. My big girl hound is pretty laid back, and she loves to play, so fingers crossed. Thanks for the encouragement!

--- P

[Rockymountainmama]

Hi Pam,
Congratulations on the new addition to your family!

I thought I would chime in on the treat discussion, as we raised a high-drive German Shepherd from 9 weeks who is now 3 years old. Our method is:

1) Always do training sessions adjacent to meals (that contain the appropriate dose of enzyme)
2) Use tiny melt-in-your-mouth treats

Our pup is allergic to poultry so we found that these tiny dehydrated rabbit treats worked well!

https://www.chewy.com/vital-essentials- ... /dp/846230

[Tuckaboo Pam]

Thanks so much for the ideas! The advice to introduce them close to a meal is a great plan. --- Pam