Best recall treats for Dogue de Bordeaux

Reliable recall is honestly the most important skill any dog can have — and with a breed like a Dogue de Bordeaux, getting it solid early is critical before that stubbornness really sets in. The most effective combination I see working is a genuinely high-value treat paired with a long line so you can practise safely without the dog ever getting to make the wrong choice. To point you toward the right treat: how old is your dog, how bad is the recall right now, and are you after training aids, treats, or both?

Right, that tracks completely — Dogues are independently minded and at 7 months he's hitting that adolescent peak where the outside world is suddenly far more interesting than you. Standard treats like kibble or even most commercial dog treats simply won't cut it. You need something with a strong scent, a soft texture he can eat fast, and a taste that registers as genuinely extraordinary to him. What does he go absolutely mad for at home — meat, fish, cheese? And does he have any known allergies or sensitivities I should know about?

Hot dogs are a solid benchmark — it tells me he responds to strong, meaty, moist food. For a dog like yours, I'd go straight to Forthglade Natural Treats 100% Chicken Liver. These are single-ingredient dried chicken liver treats — incredibly pungent, which is exactly what cuts through distraction for a big stubborn breed, soft enough to eat in a second so training doesn't stall, and light enough that you can use a lot of them in one session without worrying about upsetting his stomach. Chicken liver sits near the top of what most dogs rate as genuinely irresistible, and the strong smell carries well outdoors. Keep them in a treat pouch on your belt, use them exclusively for recall — never for sit or down — so they stay special, and pair them with a 10-metre long line so he's always physically able to succeed. That combination should give you real results within a few weeks of consistent practice.

Keep sessions short — 10 to 15 minutes maximum — and aim for 20 to 30 recall repetitions, giving one or two treats each time he comes back. The key to them staying high value is rationing them strictly. If he only ever gets chicken liver when he recalls to you, the novelty holds for months. The moment you start using them as general rewards they drop in value fast. Some owners rotate between two or three ultra-high-value treats — chicken liver one session, sprats the next — which keeps things unpredictable and actually strengthens recall further. But start with just the liver, get the behaviour solid, then consider rotating if you feel him starting to switch off.

Good luck — stay consistent with the long line until recall is genuinely reliable in high distraction environments, which for a Dogue typically takes longer than most breeds but they do get there. The effort you put in at 7 months will pay off enormously when he's 50kg and charging toward something. Any other questions as you go, come back.