When it comes to choosing the best way to train your dog to behave as a puppy, there are many different opinions out there. The trick is to find the method that works best for you and your dog. Many people want to know if it is okay to train your dog with treats. It interesting to take a look at how your dog thinks as you work to find the most effective way to train them. Blitz K9 Club is here to take a deeper dive into whether or not training your dog using food is the best course of action.
Does Training Dogs with Treats Work?
The good news for dog owners that are trying to get their dogs trained is that food can be highly beneficial. Dogs are innately motivated by food. They aren’t going to be as motivated by praise or toys. However, as effective as food can be, there are many pitfalls that dog owners can often run into. We will also be looking at what treats work best for training and squashing some myths around treats for training.
Are Treats Bribery?
It can be a fine line between a treat becoming a training tool and a treat becoming a bribe. There is a difference even if it feels like there isn’t. Bribing your dog with treats teaches them to do a trick only if they can see the treat first. If they don’t see the treat first, they don’t think they are going to get one and they won’t do whatever you are asking of them. This is why it is important that you have them perform the behavior beforehand. Make them do the thing you’re asking of them and then REWARD them with a treat afterwards that they couldn’t see while completing the command.
How Often Should I Give My Dog Treats when Training?
When you are first teaching your dog a behavior, you will want to give them a reward every single time. As they get better at listening to the command and behaving, you can start to back off on the treats. You will only want to give them a treat intermittently so that they are always guessing as to whether or not they will get a treat that time.
Is it OK to Use Dog Food as Treats for Training?
Choosing the right treats is important when using treats for training. They should be soft and small. You want the treats to be small enough that they don’t have many calories as you don’t want to add too much to their daily caloric intake. Using their usual dog food kibble is ideal.
Dog Obedience, Socialization & Behavioral Training in Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, Commerce Township and other areas within an hour of our home base of Waterford, Michigan
If you are having a difficult time teaching your dog to behave, you can turn to Blitz K9 Club for help. We have years of experience in training dogs and can help you achieve the goals that you’ve been striving for. We want you to be able to enjoy your dog fully which can only come from strict training practices. Call us today!
