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
Training two small reactive dogs at once is genuinely tricky — you need treats that are fast, irresistible, and small enough that neither dog is still chewing when the next trigger walks past. The best training treats are pea-sized, high in protein, and smelly enough to cut through the excitement of another dog or person approaching. They should disappear in one bite so your dog stays focused, not sniffing around for crumbs. What are both dogs reacting to — other dogs, people, or both? And any allergies or intolerances I should know about?
Mainly other dogs on the pavement. The Shih Tzu barks and lunges, the Maltipoo just freezes and shuts down. No known allergies but the Shih Tzu has had a sensitive stomach in the past.
inparticular.ai
That's a really common split — one dog goes over threshold loudly, the other goes quiet and checks out. Both responses mean the treat needs to be genuinely high value, because you're asking them to stay in their thinking brain when everything in them is saying otherwise. For a sensitive stomach, I'd also steer away from anything with a lot of artificial additives or rich meat pastes that can cause loose stools mid-session. Are you training them together at the same time, or separately?
Separately mostly, but sometimes one is watching from the garden while the other is working. So they can see each other.
inparticular.ai
Good to know — that means the watching dog needs to be occupied too, so having a consistent treat both dogs find rewarding makes your life a lot easier. Given the Shih Tzu's stomach sensitivity and the fact you need something genuinely motivating for a dog that freezes, I'd go with Forthglade Grain Free Chicken Training Treats. They're small, soft, and smelly enough to register even when a dog is stressed. The chicken-only formula is gentle on sensitive digestion, and the soft texture means they're gone in under a second — no chewing, no distraction. Both small breeds tend to go well with them, and they come in a resealable pouch which helps for outdoor sessions. Avoid the fish variety if the Shih Tzu's stomach is unpredictable — chicken is the safest bet.
That sounds good. How many do I use in a session — I don't want to overfeed them since they're both quite small?
inparticular.ai
Completely right to think about that. For small dogs, keep sessions to 10–15 minutes max and use no more than 20–25 treats per dog per session. Because these are soft and low-calorie, you can split each piece in half again for the Shih Tzu if you want even smaller portions — they'll still get the smell and the reward signal. Just reduce their main meal slightly on heavy training days. The Maltipoo, if they're freezing and struggling to take treats at all, might need you to move further from the trigger first — no treat is magic if the dog is completely over threshold.
Yes the trainer said the same about distance. Thanks, this is really helpful.
inparticular.ai
You're in good hands then. Forthglade Grain Free Chicken Training Treats, chicken variety, and work on getting both dogs below threshold before asking anything of them. The freeze response in the Maltipoo should ease as they build positive associations at distance — it just takes longer than the barking-lunging type to show progress, but it does come. Good luck with them both.
