How to Introduce Dog Treats Into Your Pup’s Training?
When training your dog, you want to make sure you’re rewarding them with high-value treats that encourage them to pay close attention. Training might seem simple: you ask a dog to understand a verbal or visual cue and then perform a specific behavior. However, to your dog, this isn’t always so straightforward or obvious.
Food makes learning easier for them. Many dogs are food motivated, and that means they’re willing to go the extra mile to earn that tasty treat. However, there are some things you need to know before you introduce dog treats into your pup’s training routine.
Use High-Value Treats
While it might seem tempting to just use your dog’s existing dog food, like kibble, this might not be high-value enough. You want something your pet doesn’t usually get on a daily basis to really make them excited.
Training should be fun, both for you and Fido. If they have a delicious, high-value treat, they don’t get all the time, and they’re going to be over-the-top excited and ready to work for that treat. Using a high-quality dog treat or cookie-like the selection from Wufers.com is a great way to introduce dog treats into your pup’s training.
Break Treats Into Smaller Pieces
You want to use high-value treats your dog really loves, but you also want to break them into smaller pieces. It’s easy to overdo it with treats and overfeed your dog, and this isn’t a healthy, long-term practice. Too many treats at once can go over their daily calorie limit, making them sick or overweight if you keep it up.
Instead, break the treats into smaller pieces or use small treats. This keeps your dog’s weight at a healthy level while still giving them that delicious taste they’ve been working towards.
Reward Every Step
When your pup is first learning something new, whether it’s a command or how to settle down, they’re going to take a bunch of baby steps along the way. Like humans, it takes time to learn something new for the first time.
Don’t wait for your dog to perform the entire task before you give a treat. This just leads to your dog getting frustrated and not understanding. Instead, give them a small treat every time they take a step forward in the process. For instance, if you’re teaching Fido how to lay down, reward them when they begin to move towards the ground until they finally reach this goal.
Avoid Using Treats as Bribes
When you’re first getting started with training, treats are a great way to encourage your pet to follow your instructions. However, you don’t want to rely on treats too much long-term. Otherwise, the treat itself becomes a bribe.
You can introduce things like verbal encouragement, clicker training, and so on to get your dog in the habit of following your command even when there is no treat. While it’s great to reward your dog for good behaviors, remember that treats are only one part of this process.
Train Your Pet with Ease
With most people considering their pup as part of the family, it’s no wonder so much time is put into training. If you’re starting a training routine for your furry friend, using treats is a great way to see more progress in less time.
Before you begin a new training routine on your own, make sure to pay close attention to these tips above. The right strategy with treats will help your pet stay happy and healthy as they continue to learn.
