Dog, What do professional dog trainers use for treats?
Successful dog training relies mostly on rewards. According to dog training experts, dogs are more likely to follow commands when they are rewarded with treats. They become attentive and repeat desired behaviors in an attempt to be rewarded. There is perfectly nothing wrong with giving treats. In fact, professional dog trainers have been using treats for years as part of their training. There are various forms of treats but according to dog trainers, the most effective treat to alter a dog’s behavior is food. What type of treats should you give your dog? You can’t just give any kind of food you see. The type of food you choose to use as treats will either negatively or positively impact your training. So, choose wisely.
Treats That Are Quick To Consume
In dog training, you have to keep the momentum going since the training is short in duration. Lengthy training is discouraged. To keep your dog attentive, we recommend using high-rate reinforcement. This means you’ll need to produce treats in a short period. It’s wise to choose treats that your dog can chew and swallow easily. The harder it is for the treat to consume, the more time your dog will spend nibbling on it. When foods are easy to eat you can proceed to the next stage. When you can maintain your dog’s interest you can keep going with the training and accomplish many things in a short amount of time. The reason why training should be short is that your dog’s attention span is not that long so you need to take advantage of it while your dog is engaged.
Treats Should Be Bite-Sized
Keep your dog treats bite-sized. The same principle applies to the first one discussed. How small is small? Well, some large dogs find pea-sized dog treats enough. But, when you’re training smaller dogs, you’ll have to cut the treats to even smaller pieces. If you’re not the one making the treats and you’re just buying them from pet stores, we suggest you cut them into half because most dog treats are huge and are not suitable for training sessions. Cutting the treats into half their original size will also mean keeping your calories to a minimum. You don’t want to go overboard with the treats otherwise, your dog is going to gain weight after the training.
Stinky and Soft Treats Are Better
Dogs prefer soft treats compared to the chewy and hard ones because they are easier to chew, swallow, and digest. Biscuits are popular dog treats but we wouldn’t suggest it because there’s a tendency for biscuits to turn into crumbs and instead of continuing with the training you’ll find your dog on the floor licking off every piece of crumb it can find and this can be very time-consuming. Also, the stinker the treat the more palatable it is for your beloved pet. Examples of these treats are bacon and cheese.
Offer a Variety of Treats
Don’t just give the same treat over and over for the entire duration of your training. Add some variety to it to keep your dog interested and anticipating. Most dogs get bored when they are offered the same treat. If your dog’s excitement and interest start fading maybe it’s time you change your treats to something that has greater value to your pet.
Takeaway
These treats will surely train your dog to listen, obey, and follow your commands and it will keep them excited for the next training. Treats are crucial in honing your dog’s behavior and skills. You can find countless recipes online if you want to make your own homemade treats.
