Like the old adage says, “the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, the same holds true for our pups!

The Power of Treats

Training and rewards go together because when we want an animal to learn something new or change an undesirable behavior, we must know what motivates them.  What is motivating to some dogs is not always motivating for others.  Some dogs, for example, will work for kibble or a dry biscuit. However other dogs will require a higher value reward to perform such as a semi-moist training treat or chicken jerky and some dogs won’t work unless meatballs, cheese or freeze-dried organ parts, the highest value rewards, are involved. Audition several different types of food rewards to truly understand your pooch’s preferences.

Knowing which reward to use depends upon what you are asking of your dog and where you are asking your dog to perform the behavior.  For example, asking your dog to relax and lay down in their place while you are watching tv is not nearly as difficult as loose leash walking at the farmer’s market.  Dogs aren’t very good at taking what they learned inside and applying it to outside and public locations.  Remember to bring treats and dispense generously when visiting an unfamiliar place and you want good behavior from your dog. 

How to Get Your Dog to Listen Without Treats

The biggest objection I hear to training with treats is that people don’t want their dog on the treat train forever.  Train properly to avoid this common error.  Once the dog is consistently performing a particular behavior, in a particular location, move to an intermittent reward schedule, meaning replace some of the treats with other types of rewards like a game of tug or belly scratches.  I tend not to reward my dog for sitting calmly by feet inside the house, but I absolutely will reward him generously for a polite sit when we are walking on the boardwalk and a family with kids is approaching from the opposite direction.

And while food is the fastest way to train a new behavior, food is not the only reward tool available.  Other types of rewards include play, access to the outside, attention, petting, scratching, fetch or praise like ‘good boy’ or ‘good girl’.  These types of life rewards are incredibly powerful because they are unanticipated (food can be smelled) and are useful when food is not readily available.

Best Dog Training Treats

As a pro trainer, I am constantly on the lookout for treats. So, what’s in my pouch?  I purchase from big manufactures like Stella & Chewys and Top Chews and family-owned producers like Bixbi, as well as Fig and Tyler. Commonalities amongst these products are limited ingredients, freeze-dried meats, and made in the USA.  Just like I don’t load up my family’s bodies with junk foods, I don’t do it for beloved pets, whether my own or client’s.

Treat your doggie to some goodies and enjoy a 10% discount from Fig & Tyler.

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