A SPECIAL KIND OF TREAT

"Soft and stinky... They have to be soft and stinky."

Though this sounds ominous, truer words were never spoken in my dog training odyssey. I thought I had tried everything, but soft and stinky turned out to be the key. When dealing with a dog who had become so anxious and afraid and hyper-vigilant to not even be capable of considering eating a treat, the one training tool I had relied upon to that point… The ability to reward... Right out the window. And though I knew food wasn't the answer to my problems, Gracie's inability to eat food told me just how big my problem had grown.

"Soft and stinky..."

I had tried deli sliced turkey meats, chicken breast, nearly every obvious treat at the pet store, even ones that promised to calm my dog to improve training! I couldn't bring myself to introduce hot dogs as a common recommendation from trainers and owners alike. I just wanted something, anything, that could prove little by little, to my dear Gracie, that there was more to life than fear... There were soft and stinky treats!

I had always seen them at the pet store, usually hanging on an end cap or stand... Big sausage looking things shrink-wrapped in white and blue. Admittedly I had regularly scoffed... "What am I supposed to do with that?" Then went tasked by our new trainer to provide soft and stinky treats I admitted I was at a loss for ideas...

"Oh, why didn't you say so!? Natural Balance rolls. Cut them up, put them in a baggy. You can easily pinch off the smallest or biggest piece. Super soft so your pup can scarf them down quickly and effortlessly so you can keep rewarding her. Amazingly stinky so she'll always know when you have them and that's a good thing."

Five years later, Natural Balance Rolls are the one tool in my pet arsenal that remains a necessary staple. Great as a training reward, ideal for stuffing with a pill, effective grated into kibble as an appetite stimulant for a pup feeling under the weather or simply stressed by travel or eating in an unfamiliar place.

I can't say Natural Balance Rolls fixed Gracie... But I swear that these soft and stinky treats helped open my mind to the work that needed to be done and gave me a valuable reward to break her cycle of fear.

A testament to the power of the stink? I have wooed many a dog in the park from well beyond 50 paces... Especially to the surprise of numerous owners who swear up and down... "He just doesn't like treats... Never has..." And then I explain the soft and the stinky and share the secret of the Natural Balance Rolls.

 

Click here to read more about Natural Balance Rolls and all the Natural Balance Products on their website.

NOTE: Natural Balance Rolls come in a variety of sizes and flavors including sample sizes and will keep for an extended period of time in original packaging. Once open, simply keep refrigerated and sealed in a zip top bag and use as necessary — a little goes a long way!!

ALSO ANOTHER NOTE: February 15th, 2014 -- Sometime in 2014 Natural Balance not only changedthe package to a solid blue color, but the formula for all of the flavors changed dramatically. Rather than "Lamb", "Beef", "Turkey" each of the flavors was mixed with either chicken or turkey creating a less stinky, less soft, more crumbly generally less compelling treat. Our local Pet Food Express recognized the issue and was able to continue selling the original formula for as long as they could. However they have made assurances that Natural Balance plans to again reformulate to rectify the issues causing outcries from devoted fans and their owners.