How to Avoid the Slobber ICK While Training Your Dog

This week is a pack member submitted topic:

I struggle with sensory issues around my treat bag and rewarding my dog. Help!

This struggle is SO common and I deal with it myself as well!

Treat bags are a bit cumbersome, and the slobber and crumbs can be so irritating to the skin and brain.

Thankfully, with my treat pouch wearing 24/7 I have gathered many helpful tips and tricks for minimizing the yuck.

If you purchase using the links in this post, I will receive a small commission to help me continue this blog. However, all products linked are ones I have personally tried and enjoyed with my dogs.

Carry Wipes in Your Treat Pouch

This is a huge one for me. If I don’t carry wipes, I will wipe my hands on my pants, which gets absolutely disgusting. An easy swap for me was to carry wipes or a towel specifically for my treat hands and I make sure to refill my bag every time I get home.

Wear a Glove

This is one solution that I personally don’t enjoy, but a lot of trainers and handlers will wear a glove on their treat hand to avoid feeling the icky sticky slobber hand. I’ve seen medical gloves, fancy riding gloves, fingerless gloves, and more! You could keep a set in your treat pouch just like the wet wipes.

Attach a Golf Towel

Golf towels or hand towels with a button are great to attach to your treat pouch near where you usually wipe your hands. This is a lifesaver for keeping your hands (and pants) clean and non-slobbery after treating your dog!

Get the Right Treat Pouch

I can’t stand a treat pouch that rubs sores on my hips or hands or is hard to get the treats out of. My all time favorite brand of treat pouch is the fanny pack version of the Akra Creations treat pouches. It has enough space in all the pockets, no thigh strap (though there is that option if that feels better for you), and the waistband is thick and comfortable. I can even keep my wallet items and snacks for me inside to avoid needing a purse. If you want a discount to try, use my code DELTATAILS for 15% off at this link:  (I do get a small commission if you choose to purchase.)

Wear High Waisted Pants or Long Shirt

One of my least favorite things is getting rubbed raw by a treat belt. If I wear thicker pants or a longer shirt, I can avoid it. Paired with the right bag, and it’s no longer a struggle for me at all!

Try Different Treat Types

Our dogs LOVE food, but sometimes the foods they love can feel… awful on our hands. I draw the line at anything raw because I don’t want that on my hands. But anything my dogs like that is too slimy or sticky goes right in a squeeze pouch. If I have to thicken or thin it to work in a squeeze pouch, I will! Some of my clients only use squeezable treats for this very reason. I also prefer to use Happy Howies treat rolls because they don’t crumble, are soft and stinky, but aren’t hard to grab or feel greasy. Play around with different types to see what you can handle more easily.

Try a Vest

Training vests are an option as well. Training vests typically have a ton of pockets all over and lots of space to store treats and toys for training. 

Carrying treats is a necessary evil for most dog training. 

But it doesn’t have to be a sensory nightmare! 

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