The Best Treats for Training Your Dog
March 25, 2024
When you are training your dog to follow a simple command or to learn a new trick, the reward is key. There are so many types of commercial treats, as well as household food items, that are great options for training treats, so keep these factors in mind when choosing.
- Small treats
When you are training, you are giving many treats to your dog in a very small amount of time. It is best to keep them very small, as your dog will still get the taste of their favorite snack without piling on the calories consumed. Small size treats will also allow you to keep moving along quickly in your training session, as your dog will not need to take much time to stop and eat between commands. - Keep treats on hand.
There may be times in your training process when you will want to reward good behavior as you see it throughout the day. When you are with your dog, keep a pocket filled with treats so you are able to reinforce the good behavior that you are seeing on the spot. This is a great way for your pup to really catch on to what you are expecting as far as daily behavior goes, and not just when you are focused on a training session. - Variety.
Just as you may become tired of eating one kind of food over and over, your dog may like a change up in their treats. If your dog seems distracted or uninterested in your training, you may want to switch to a favorite treat that will lock in their focus. You can also mix many together to keep your dog guessing what the next bite will be.
Treats and rewards are the keys to success in any training process with your pup. It may take some trial and error on finding what your dog likes best, but once you do, you are set.
Sources:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dog-training-treats
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