This is a specific conversation about Dog training treats — high value, small size — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
The most effective training treats are pea-sized, smelly, and high in protein — the dog eats them in one bite without losing focus, and they need to be genuinely more exciting than everything else around them. For a scent-driven breed like a Bloodhound, that last part matters enormously: if the treat doesn't compete with whatever's in the air, you've already lost the session. What size is your dog, what are you training for, and are there any dietary restrictions I should know about?
He's 11 months old, already about 40kg. We're working on recall and basic heel work, but his nose just takes over completely — he'll hit a scent trail and that's it, I don't exist. No known allergies.
inparticular.ai
That's a classic Bloodhound problem — and at 11 months he's got all the drive with none of the self-control yet. Recall and heel are exactly the right things to be drilling now, before that nose gets even more confident. With a dog this scent-obsessed, you need something that genuinely punches through. What are you currently using as treats, and how is he responding to them?
I've been using small bits of cheese and sometimes chicken. He takes them fine at home but outside it's like they don't exist once he's locked onto something.
inparticular.ai
Cheese and chicken are solid, but they're relatively mild-smelling — a Bloodhound on a trail is processing an extraordinary amount of olfactory information, and those treats just can't cut through the noise. You need something with a much stronger odour profile. My recommendation is Jimondo Dried Sprats — whole small fish, air-dried, with an intense fishy smell that genuinely registers even when a dog is distracted. They're naturally pea-sized, high in protein and omega-3s, and because they're whole dried fish rather than a processed treat, the smell is pervasive and real. Break them in half for a 40kg dog to keep the calorie load sensible during a long session. They're available on Amazon UK and the smell is strong enough that you'll want to keep them in a sealed pouch — which is actually a useful signal to the dog that the session is starting.
That makes sense. Will they actually make a difference outside, or is this just wishful thinking with a Bloodhound?
inparticular.ai
Honestly, no treat is going to override a fully committed nose-down Bloodhound on a hot trail — that's not a training treat problem, that's a breed reality. But the sprats significantly raise your chances of getting his attention before he hits that point of no return. The goal is to intervene earlier in the distraction cycle, and a treat he can smell from several feet away gives you a better window to do that. Pair them exclusively with recall so they stay high-value — don't use them for sit or down at home, save them for the moments that matter outside.
Good advice. I'll grab a bag and see how we get on.
inparticular.ai
Good luck — he sounds like a wonderful handful. One practical tip: do your outdoor recall work on a long line for now. It keeps him safe while you're building the habit, and it means you can prevent him self-rewarding on a scent trail before you've had a chance to call him back. The sprats plus a long line plus consistent short sessions will get you a long way.
