How To Use Dog Training Treats Effectively

The premise of an article on how to use dog training treats might seem a pretty simple one. How complicated can it be? You take a dog training treat. You give the treat to your dog to teach them how to perform a behavior. The dog duly performs the behavior. Everyone’s happy.

Except that’s actually a far removal from the reality of using treats in dog training. Although it seems straightforward, there are several things it is worth considering beforehand. What type of treats should you use for your dog? How big should the treats be? Why do we even use treats at all?

In this article, we’re going to explore the how and why behind the use of dog training treats.

Why use dog training treats?

Motivation is key when it comes to training your dog. Many dogs are extremely food-motivated, so incorporating treats into the dog training process is a natural way to teach and reinforce new behaviors. Treats are a common and popular type of positive reinforcement.

If your dog isn’t particularly motivated by food, you can always use a high-value toy instead. The principle is the same – the dog is working for something they want.

What can you use for treats?

While many large suppliers of packaged pet treats would like you to believe otherwise, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to choosing a treat for your dog. Individual dogs have different tastes and different preferences.

The most important thing to remember is that the treat you choose should be sufficiently motivating for your dog to truly want it. For example, if your dog is fed a steady diet of kibble at mealtimes, then it’s unlikely that a single piece of kibble will be desirable enough to be used as a treat in your training endeavors. Try experimenting with different foods (ensuring they are safe for dogs to eat – check out our list) and see what truly grabs your dog’s attention. Cooked chicken or salmon often work as great incentives, but the best way to test your dog’s preferences is to try out a few alternatives.

How to use training treats

Two common ways to use training treats are for luring and rewarding.

Luring is used in the very early stages of teaching dogs to perform a new behavior. This involves closing your hand around a treat, and then using the smell of the treat to lure your dog into the desired behavior. One example of this would be luring a dog into a Down position by bringing the treat from their nose, and bringing it down to the ground. Note that while this is effective in the early period when teaching something new, it is important to transition away from the lure as quickly as possible, as your dog may associate the behavior with the luring process as opposed to actually picking up on the behavior.

Rewarding is used when a dog successfully performs the desired behavior. For example, when you ask your dog to perform a command, such as a Sit, the reward is offered when the dog gets into a Sit position. This creates a positive association with the behavior and increases the chances that the dog will perform the behavior again in the future.

Schedules of reinforcement

Schedules of reinforcement are the rules that govern how often we are rewarded for performing certain behaviors. It is a psychological concept that applies not only to dogs, but humans too. There are multiple ways you can treat your dog to ensure your dog does not become dependent on treats and to keep the training varied. In a nutshell, these are simply different frequencies with which you dispense the treats or rewards associated with their training.

Continuous schedule of reinforcement. This is a 1:1 ratio, where every time a behavior is performed, a treat is provided. This is excellent in the early phases of teaching new behaviors, as it creates a clear relationship between the command (ex: Sit) and the outcome (treat). However, it is vital not to overuse this, otherwise your dog will come to expect that they will receive a treat for every single instance of a behavior.
Fixed ratio or fixed interval reinforcement. With this approach, your dog is rewarded intermittently but on a fixed schedule – so they may be rewarded for every fifth instance of performing a behavior, or after a certain amount of time has elapsed. This can strengthen the dog’s understanding, although smarter dogs may become wise to the routine.
Variable ratio or variable interval reinforcement. As the name suggests, this schedule of reinforcement is random – there will be no pattern or set schedule to the reinforcement, so your dog will not be able to predict when the reward will come. In the long run, this is the best way to build consistency in your dog’s behavior, as they will continue to work reliably with no expectation or anticipation of when a treat will actually be dispensed.

Tips and troubleshooting

Putting these philosophies regarding treats into practice can often require the help of a professional dog trainer, particularly for teaching more complex behaviors. Here are some tips to help you succeed with getting the most from using treats in your dog training activities.

Timing is key. Knowing when to deliver the treat is absolutely pivotal to successful training outcomes. If you don’t catch the behavior in the moment – perhaps you offer the treat before the dog has completed the command, or you wait too long in the aftermath – the dog will not make the association between the behavior and the reinforcer.
Bribery. In this instance, bribery is where your dog is essentially telling you that they won’t perform the behavior unless you have the treat visible and ready to go. They understand what you’re asking them to do, but they won’t do it until they know you have a treat in hand. Don’t fall into this trap – it will become very hard to undo later on.
Think about your dog’s overall calorie intake. You should factor in your dog’s treats into their overall daily food consumption. Many veterinarians recommend the 10% rule, which states that treats should make up no more than one-tenth of your dog’s daily food intake.
Size of the treats. The treats should be cut into pea-sized amounts. This provides enough motivation for the dog without overfeeding them, and should be easy for you to hold and dispense. A treat pouch or bag can be a worthwhile investment to make things easier.
Pair with praise. Keeping dog training sessions fun helps to keep your dog enthused and more likely to stay engaged. Make sure to issue plenty of praise and encouragement when using treats as an additional form of reinforcement. This also helps to wean your dog off becoming dependent on food to perform behaviors.