Time is precious. Chances are there’s a lot you need and want to do, in addition to training your puppy or dog.
For the greatest return on your training time investment, the type and quality of the rewards you offer makes a huge difference.
A highly desired treat is a great way to earn or maintain a dog’s attention. But all treats are not created equal, nor are they equally desired by all dogs. Quality matters, and so does variety.
I rely primarily on meat/poultry/fish-based dehydrated treats or super-premium dog food for rewards, because I’ve found them to be the most universally desired by dogs, and the easiest to store and transport. The fewer ingredients, the better. I use only single ingredient meat-based treats for training and reinforcement.
I constantly change the protein I’m rewarding with to keep dogs interested, and to motivate a puppy or dog’s curiosity and thus their response time. Novelty means a lot to dogs of all ages. When they expect us to have new scents and tastes to work with, they’re eager and cooperative students.
I avoid processed dog food and treats (i.e., Milk Bones, Charlee Bears, most dry dog food) unless I literally have nothing else to offer. I’ll use bits of cheese or meat from the refrigerator before anything highly processed.
No matter what I’m using, the size of a training treat is about the size of a pea or a dime, for larger breeds. I don’t want a dog to be distracted chewing a large bite, and I don’t want them to fill up before the training session is over.
In addition to the type and variety of rewards, proximity to the treat is the single greatest predictor of success. Ideally, rewards arrive in a puppy or dog’s mouth within a second or two of the behavior you want to reinforce. That means the majority of rewards are delivered outside of designated “training” sessions, in most cases.
I recommend treat stations be placed in every room of the house your pup spends time in. I have one is my office, living area, kitchen, bathroom, near the patio door, and next to the leashes and poop bags for use during walks.
Glass jars with metal, screw-on lids are the best, in my experience. Dogs can smell scent through plastic. Some dogs will be relentless in their pursuit of a yummy smell, which means it can be difficult to have the treat station on a table, for example. Glass jars eliminate this problem. They’re also readily available in most recycling bins.
For puppy teaching and persistent adult behaviors, a jar on a table might be too far away to do any good. They’re also not practical for rewards outside. A wearable treat pouch is the answer. There are hundreds of options available on Amazon.
My list of currently favored treats on Amazon.
Dee Green has been a professional dog trainer and canine behavior consultant for more than 20 years. She specializes in puppies up to 18 months, and fearful, anxious and reactive dogs of all ages.
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