Some dogs are very fussy eaters and this makes clicker training harder to achieve. You can use a toy instead but food is the ultimate tool in training. If you have tried sausage, hotdog or baked liver and Fido is still fussy here is a recipe, which lots of dog handlers use and which may have the desired result for your dog.

LIVER CAKE

Ingredients:

8oz lambs liver 12oz flour
2 eggs
3-4 cloves garlic
Little milk.

Liquidize the liver, garlic and eggs together. When smooth pour into another bowel containing the flour and fold in. Add the milk. (Tip -do not use the liquidizer for this stage as it is too sticky!) You should end up with a heavy sponge cake type consistency.

Pour into a well greased roasting tin (margarine is usually best for this) and bake for one and a half to two hours at about Gas Mark 2/3 300/320F or 150/170C.

Test if cooked. When a knife in centre comes out clean it is done!

When cool slice and freeze.

As you can appreciate this is a very smelly recipe! Therein lies it's power! The combination of liver and garlic will be irresistible for your dog. It will be well worth the effort to achieve the desired response in your pooch!

With thanks to Janet Wagner for providing me with this recipe!

Sometimes after a good day out when the dogs have enjoyed an agility show or just for a treat at the week-end, I give them as a treat an 'egg-nogg.

(according to how many dogs you have) Take two eggs

Whip them up as if you were scrambling them Add milk

Whip it all together

Give this to your dog(s) either in a bowl alone or on their food. Sometimes this can encourage a poorly or older dog to try some food as its tasty and slips down.