8 week old training (treat help)

So, I have been working with Mackey (8 weeks old) on some basic commands. Sit and down. He has been doing very well but one thing that makes out training sessions less effective is how long it takes him to eat his treats. I use his kibble but it takes him so long to break it up and eat it, it totally takes him out of the "zone" sometimes. Does anyone have any suggestions of fast eating treats? He LOOOVVEES banana and peanut butter. not a bacon or chicken fan. i use frozen banana often but that messy and hard to handle.

Next question... what should i work on next?
Leave it?
Stay? Thanks!!!!!

try hot dogs cut in small pieces they love it - next command I would do is Enough - this command is great stop any unwanted behaviour - nipping, zoomies, etc can also do leave it but make sure you do not use both commands for the same issue or he will get confused .

At 8 weeks I wouldn't be worrying too much about that. All you want him to learn at that ages is to pay you attention and to know that sometimes he has to do something to earn his treat. If you get a nice sit or two and it takes him a while in between, then that's fine.

'Leave it' is a good one to teach a slightly older pup as they do tend to pick up lots of things and not want to give them back, but stay is really quite advanced. If you ask too much too soon you'll switch him off. The other thing I'd think about, just in the house and garden, is to walk around with a treat in your hand and ask him to follow you, which is the beginnings of heel. You could also start some very unstructured recall work, simply by pairing the word 'come' with a treat and then when he knows that calling him from nearby to give him a treat from time to time.

There are some fab puppy training videos here for more ideas:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C724F6F6A597540

But please don't overdo it. At that age even 5 minutes of 'work' can be hard for them to concentrate on and training should at all times be fun. Just doing something 2 or 3 times on a random basis, a couple of times a day, is more effective I think.

Great! Thanks so much for the advice!

well.... hotdogs are the ticket!!!!!!! Mackey Loved them!!!!! I always read how the right treat helps training so much! that is the truth. Last night we worked on staying and he did amazing. we only worked for 5 minutes or so but boy did he do great!!!!! thanks so much!!!!

Hiya mike imo but the hotdogs have a high salt content and wouldnt recommend for a dog have you tried dried sausage ? Natures menu do bite size training treats in a variety of flavours you get lamb chicken and beef.

Hes 8 weeks. Let him be a pup for a bit longer. I wouldn't start "tricks" until about 12+

Cheese cut into small pieces is another favourite, i`ve never had a dog turn their nose up at it

Cheese was a great reward for Marley loves it!

I have to agree with the cheese route

I'd steer clear of hotdogs too - they are full of rubbish. Cheese is good but be aware of the fat content. I used dried fish a lot when I needed something high value, they stink to high heavens but that's why dogs love them.

Great!! thanks. please don't this i'm stuffing him with hotdogs likes he's at the Nathan's Hotdog Eating competition at Coney Island. Im really only giving him a few bite sizes pieces!!! Thanks!!!!

My fav is james well beloved crackerjacks or minijacks if you have a puppy or natures menu lamb stinks to high heaven and is ideal for training foumd this useful when mia was mouthy and cut the treats in half.

You definitely need fast to eat treats, we use chicken or ham but tiny, tiny pieces, I cut a slice of chicken into about 30!
We are doing a class. She taught sit, then, look at me, then recall, then lie down, then go to bed, stay, leave it, loose lead walking.

That's really great! We start puppy school in a month!

Kiki really loves dried liver (just make sure you buy organic). Only she'll keep her full attention on me and just sit like a good girl with the Staffy glare meaning 'i know there is more where that came from and will remain seated until i have had it all'. So she'll only get it as a great reward once she's getting a command completely right during training which also concludes the training. Can be after 1 minute or after 10 depending on her mood. When going on a walk hotdogs do the trick to have your Staffy walking next or behind you, got her more or less out of her pulling the leash frenzy.
Her recall is just horrible. I can get her attention but in stead of obeying she'll just continue what she was doing. Still have my work cut out for me. I guess this is the independent trait of the Staffy.