We all know how challenging it is to train our little paw friends to become good doggies. However, when training your puppy, it must be done at the right age and with the right things.
Toys of all sorts may sound great, but food is the primary motivating factor when training a puppy.
That is why reward-based training with treats is a proven technique in obedience training. As much as it is effective, you should use it knowing its limitations.
Overindulging in treats could cause more harm than good, which is why you need to be knowledgeable about using treats when training puppies.
Read, The Ultimate Guide to Training Your Puppy with Feeding Treats before using this technique next time.
Using Treats Properly
Using treats properly is essential to have a positive training experience. If done incorrectly, it could lead to some drastic results that could cause you more trouble than intended.
Therefore, keep the following in mind when training your puppy with feeding treats.
Use Small Treats
Small treats are essential to keep the training sessions going. Even if you have a large dog, small dog treats are enough to keep them motivated during training.
Some of the commercial treats that you have may be large. You can cut them into small pieces and give them to your puppy.
Keep the treats cut and ready before training. Don’t feel guilty for depriving your puppy of these treats by giving them small potions. They will be more than happy with what they get.
Smaller treats also mean that you won’t overdo it with your dog, which can lead to weight gain. Eating a handful of small treats means your puppy only consumes a few calories. Also, it won’t get your puppy full before the training session is over.
Another thing is to give your puppy treats that it can eat quickly. The sooner your puppy eats the treat, the faster your training session will be, as you can move on to the next repetition right away.
Your puppy will also be motivated and move on with training, awaiting the next time it is supposed to be rewarded.
If your puppy spends more time chewing on the treat, you’ll have to extend the training session duration. Lengthy sessions can make your puppy lose focus on training.
It’s vital to ensure that the treats are soft so your puppy can chew them fast.
Soft treats topped with bacon or cheese are absolute favorites of many puppies, especially because they are also smelly. The smell makes it more tempting for puppies.
Reward A Submissive State
You reward your puppy for behaving well and being obedient during training. So, you should not reward hyperactive behavior. Wait until your puppy has reached a calm state before rewarding it.
Food treats reward puppies and motivate them to be obedient and do well in training sessions.
Naturally, meaty treats are the perfect reward for puppies older than four months. Break the treat into small pieces before giving it to your dog.
Remember that treats should not exceed 10% of your puppy’s daily calorie requirement.
Not all dogs may be motivated by food treats. There could be some puppies who love to have their favorite toy.
Ensure you understand your puppy before using food treats as rewards. If, by any chance, it doesn’t seem to be motivated by it, try to use something else for positive reinforcement.
Never Bribe Your Puppy
You should never bribe your puppy to get things done, especially during training. The purpose of giving your puppy treats is to get it motivated for training.
Once it gets the hang of training, you should slowly let go of rewarding it each time it responds to the command.
This way, it wouldn’t expect treats every time it does well and will gradually get used to it. Instead, you can reward it with praise or pat it to let it know that you appreciate it.
Remove Distractions from Surroundings
Your puppy could get easily distracted from its surroundings. Do you find getting your puppy’s attention towards the treat difficult?
The reason could be the noise of cars whirring or children playing in the surroundings. Take your dog to a place that doesn’t have distractions so that it will be focused on training and getting the treat.
Training Tips
When training your puppy, try to keep training sessions as short as possible. Puppies have a very short attention span and will quickly lose focus. So, avoid dragging sessions for an extended duration. It will make training enjoyable for both parties.
Also, choose a time when your puppy is alert and not hyperactive or too excited. If not, your puppy will struggle to concentrate during training.
If your puppy is new to training, start with the basic commands as follows:
- Sit
- Stay
- Down
- Drop
Reasons To Use Treats For Training
Treats for training have shown very good results in dog training sessions. Here are the reasons why you should use treats for training your puppy.
- It gives your puppy something to look forward to.
- It helps your puppy to adjust and stop being distracted when training in an unfamiliar environment.
- It helps achieve positive results in training without making your puppy dependent on treats alone.
- It boosts your puppy’s nutritional requirements.
Avoid Making Your Dog Fat
One thing to remember is that you shouldn’t overdo the treats while training. Too many treats could make your puppy gain weight and lead to many more complications.
Treats should not take up more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie requirement. With that in mind, reward your puppy in other ways. It could be by praising it with phrases like ‘good boy.’
A pat on the back followed by praise will also motivate your puppy. Some people also use toys as treats instead of solely relying on food to keep their puppy motivated.
Some devices monitor your puppy’s health, fitness, and activity levels. If you doubt that you’ve gone above the limit with treats, you can always use these devices to check the status of your puppy’s health.
Read more to learn about these devices and how you can help your puppy live a healthy and active life.
Final Thoughts
Rewarding your puppy with feeding treats is one of the best ways to motivate it during training sessions.
Food is the most powerful motivator, at least in the case of most dogs. However, it should be done properly to reap its benefits.
Going over the top with feeding treats and making your puppy rely on them will show little results as far as training is concerned.
Use this as a guide to reward your puppy with food treats and help it have an enjoyable time training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should You Train A Puppy With Feeding Treats?
You should use feeding treats to train a puppy because they will motivate your puppy during training sessions.
When Should You Start Training A Puppy With Feeding Treats?
The best time to start giving your puppy feeding treats is when it is two months old.
Can You Give Your Puppy Treats Every Day?
You can give your puppy treats daily as long as it doesn’t take up more than 10% of its daily calorie intake.
