Packing and paying with liver at obedience class

Liver treats for obedience class go in a closed pouch, already broken small and measured out at home from the day's treat budget. Before the first class, ask the instructor which kind or size of treat they prefer, and leave the bag itself sealed at home.

Should you ask the instructor before bringing liver to class?

Yes, and do it when you sign up, not at the door. Instructors run their rooms in their own way. Some have a preferred treat or a size they like to see, and some have rules about what comes in. A short question up front costs nothing and saves an awkward moment with a full pouch on your hip.

Tell them what you plan to bring: freeze-dried beef liver, broken into small bits. If they have a better idea for a room full of dogs, take it. They know the floor, the other handlers and the pace of the class, and you do not yet.

This is also a good time to ask what the class will cover. If the class works on a cue we have a page for, such as recall, knowing what is coming helps you decide how much to pack.

How much liver should you pack for one class?

Measure the class share at home, from the day's budget, and pack only that. A class is a day like any other as far as treats are concerned. Class liver sits under the same limit as every other treat, no more than 10 percent of daily calories according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

Take your dog's calorie target from your veterinarian, work out the day's allowance, and decide how much of it class gets. If you also train at home, leave room for that. Weigh the class share and put it in the pouch, so you are not guessing at the door.

Anything that comes home gets counted, which is where the last section comes in.

How small should liver bits be for a class?

Small enough to eat in one go, so the next exercise is not left waiting while your dog chews. A big piece can hold up the line while your dog finishes it, and the next cue has to wait.

With our freeze-dried beef liver, the pieces are medium sized and break apart by hand. Break them at the kitchen counter before you leave, not in a room where everything is moving.

If your dog needs a stronger reward for a harder exercise, a slightly bigger bit is fine. Keep most bits small so the class keeps its pace.

Where does the liver go while class is running?

In a closed pouch, and closed again between exercises. Open it, take one bit, close it. That habit keeps the liver where it belongs and keeps your hip from turning into a vending machine.

Never offer liver to someone else's dog without asking. Other handlers have their own plans, and some dogs are working on something specific. If a classmate wants to try a bit, wait for that owner's yes.

The bag itself stays sealed at home. The back label asks you to reseal after opening, and the bag is shelf stable, so there is no reason to bring all of it along.

What should you do with liver left over after class?

Count it. What came back tells you what a class actually uses, and that number helps you pack better next time. If you packed a lot and used a little, pack less. If the pouch was empty halfway through, pack a bit more, within the budget.

Leftover bits go back into the bag, and the bag is resealed. Our rule is to use the bag within 30 days of opening, and the best-by date printed on the bag runs one year from the production date. Keep it in a cool, dry place.

Then wash your hands. The high-value training treats guide explains why you might keep liver for the exercises where class makes the dog's job hardest.