Training treats: the French dip vs. pan-seared queso blanco

[celloyogi]

At our new class the instructor talked about treats. For her own dogs, she uses whatever is available. Currently on the treat menu? A French dip sandwich she didn't like, but the shelties sure do.

Olive has a super-sensitive tummy so finding training treats has always been a problem. Baby cereal worked for a while but she has lost interest. I don't think most human food would work with Olive, so I reconsidered cheese. Orange cheeses stain and I hate string cheese. Then I remembered the delicious-ness that is queso blanco. Plain, relatively bland white cheese that comes in a block and doesn't melt.

Cut into index-card size slices 1/4" thick or less, and cooked on medium heat in a non-stick pan (don't add oil) until golden brown on both sides. Put on paper towels and cool off/air dry for pups (eating hot for hoomans is the best).

Olive has found her doggie crack. At last night's training session at home, she was more attentive to me than she has ever been before. I cooked it more than I usually do, so it's almost leathery but still soft and very easy to pinch apart. Not greasy, doesn't make my house/my fingers/Olive's breath stink, and today she hasn't shown any sign of tummy troubles. Yaaayy!!!

[Jess041]

Have you tried string cheese? I don't know if it would upset Olive's tummy, but that is something I've used. Right now I'm using cut up turkey hotdogs because Missy got bored of my other treat, which was cut up Natural Balance rolls (Lamb). The Natural Balance would probably upset Olive's tummy.

Is it sad I don't know what queso blanco is other than "white cheese" in spanish?

[celloyogi]

Originally Posted by Jess041

Have you tried string cheese? I don't know if it would upset Olive's tummy, but that is something I've used. Right now I'm using cut up turkey hotdogs because Missy got bored of my other treat, which was cut up Natural Balance rolls (Lamb). The Natural Balance would probably upset Olive's tummy.

Is it sad I don't know what queso blanco is other than "white cheese" in spanish?

Personally I don't like string cheese, and when Olive's attention starts to move to my feet or hands only, I often either eat a piece of the cheese or hold a piece in my mouth for a moment to get her looking back at my face. We've been afraid to try the Natural Balance even though Olive would probably love it. Most of the things she thinks are delicious are not so great going out the other way...

And yep, queso blanco is just white cheese. Nothing special about it except that it won't melt (no fillers or chemical junk added to accomplish the not-melting, just a characteristic of the cheese). Sometimes it's hard to find in stores. Costco just started stocking it, before I used to go to Mexican Town (downtown Detroit district) to buy it. Looks like a slightly less crumbly feta before it's cooked.

[Jess041]

I could probably find it at the HEB by my office.. it's one of those fancy "Market" types. They have a rather large "fancy" cheese section lol.

I snack on string cheese a lot, so Missy has learned that if she looks cute enough, I'll share a bite. Our trainer uses string cheese alot too.

[Greenepony]

Originally Posted by Jess041

I could probably find it at the HEB by my office.. it's one of those fancy "Market" types. They have a rather large "fancy" cheese section lol.

When we lived in Texas we found it in regular HEB as well as Central Market (I personally think CM is overpriced but the ILs love it). You could probably used Queso Fresco as well. We had a sad little HEB (semi-affectionately known as "ghetto HEB") by campus that carried both.

[Jess041]

Originally Posted by Greenepony

We had a sad little HEB (semi-affectionately known as "ghetto HEB") by campus that carried both.

Every college in TX probably has one.. SHSU has one too.

[Jaynie]

I'm just not a cheese aficionado - I have a slight allergy to soft cheeses and other uncooked cheese products that disappears when the cheese has been cooked, but I tend to avoid it.

When I was training Neechee for our debut into obedience Novice A, I used cut-up, salt-free, turkey hot dogs that I could put in my mouth so Neechee would focus on my face. When he did a "front", I could spit the hot dog bit at him and he learned to catch them neatly. You wanna talk about straight fronts?

Well, he soon lost interest in the hot dogs, so I changed one class to string cheese. This worked so well on him that just the hint that "good dogs get string cheese" just before handing the ring steward the leash caused an uncanny ability to never take his eyes off my face.

Fast forward 10 years and getting my belongings and household goods out of storage post-divorce and second marriage. I come across my tack box, jumps, grooming tools, etc. Delighted that my equipment survived the "Great Diaspora", I start to happily go through my old battered yellow rubbermaid tack box.....only to find......

PETRIFIED STRING CHEESE!!!!! <da da dum>