What’s the Best Treat for Your Dog?
The best training is done with a variety of rewards.
Jolanta Benal, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Tiny, tasty pieces of food make the most convenient training rewards, and the ones dogs like best — usually. But for the best training, reward your dog with whatever he wants most at a given moment. It may not always be
food. For instance, suppose you’re taking a leash walk and an oncoming dog stiffens up and stares at your dog. You ask for your dog’s attention, and he looks at you. A good reward at that moment might be food – but the best reward might be safety from the threatening dog. Thank your dog for his attentiveness not only with a treat but also by moving him away, rather than making him pass the threat at close quarters.
Another example: Your dog sees a squirrel, but instead of chasing it he comes when you call him. Chasing squirrels is predatory, so food can make a great reward. But your dog is also feeling the urge to chase. Amp up that food reward by tossing it, and help him get his ya-yas out. It’s win-win.
Want to raise a happy dog who loves to play and cuddle — but still comes when called and doesn’t chew up your favorite shoes?
Then check out The Dog Trainer’s Complete Guide to a Happy, Well-Behaved Pet!
About the Author
Jolanta holds professional certifications in both training and behavior counseling and belongs to the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She also volunteered with Pet Help Partners, a program of the Humane Society of the United States that works to prevent pet relinquishment. Her approach is generally behaviorist (Pavlovian, Skinnerian and post-Skinnerian learning theory) with a big helping of ethology (animal behavior as observed in non-experimental settings).