A note for our readers: If you have an urgent question and are unable to ask your veterinarian, you can use the Ask a Vet service that will give you access to a veterinarian for 7 days for $1.
When shes not geeking out about dogs, you can find her reading, hiking with her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis, or paddleboarding.
Cathy is certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, holding both the CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA designations. Cathy is a Fear Free Certified Certified Professional, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, and the Dog Writers Association of America.
As Preventive Vets dog behavior expert and lead trainer at Pupstanding Academy, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement and force-free methods. With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization.
Our mission is to help save dogs and cats’ lives through our educational content. To support our efforts, this page may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases – at no cost to you.
Treats are one of the easiest ways to provide positive reinforcement during a training session, and, ideally, you want to reward your dog every time they do something right, which can quickly add up. To refrain from overfeeding your dog, look for tiny treats that are about the size of a piece of kibble. You can also cut up larger treats into smaller pieces if those are the kind that your dog prefers. Using smaller treats will allow you to keep rewarding your dog without upsetting their stomach or packing on too many pounds.
The best way to tell which treats your dog likes best is to present them with a wide selection of treats and see which ones they gravitate towards. It’s best to do this in the middle of the day or right before a meal. If you try to sample treats right after your dog has eaten, their belly might be too full for them to be very interested in the treats. Present them with one treat at a time and make a note of their reaction. If they gobble it down immediately, then they like the treat! If they hesitantly sniff it, or turn up their nose at it, then they don’t like it as much. If your dog doesn’t seem to like the treats you already have on hand, definitely get them a dog treat sample box so they can try out a bunch at once.
We hope this guide gave you some useful tips for treating your dog in the most delicious and effective way possible. With a little experimentation, you are sure to find a selection of treats that your dog loves.
If you’re not sure what type of treats to get for a training session, soft treats are usually better than hard treats. Soft treats are easier and faster for your dog to eat, allowing you to keep the training session moving forward. They also tend to come in smaller portions, and they won’t crumble if you do need to cut them down, making them easier to handle. Soft treats also usually smell more than hard treats, and that smell will help motivate your dog and make the training session more effective — and the treat reward that much more enjoyable.
When most people think of treats, they think of food-based rewards. However, it’s important to give your dog many different other kinds of rewards, such as a belly rub session, a romp in the backyard, and play time together. These non-food treats are equally important to your dog’s well-being and are a great way to reward them without giving them high calorie treats. Don’t leave them out of your dog’s daily life!
Sit the dog by your side and offer him a piece of the lowest-value treat. Low value treats are common or less desirable bits such as normal kibble or the same dog biscuits he’s had every day for the past few months. If he gobbles it up, keep that bag in your lap. If he disregards it with a sniff, set that bag aside.
Add a few different treats to individual sandwich bags and zip the bags closed. Include a wide range of treats such as pieces of carrot, little dog biscuits, a handful of dry kibble, small bits of cheese and chunks of fresh-cooked meats to give your dog a variety to choose from.
Treats are meant to be a tasty little reward for your pooch. Some dogs are food fanatics and enjoy every treat you give them, while others are more particular. Determining the type of treat your dog prefers is a trial-and-error adventure.
Louise Lawson has been a published author and editor for more than 10 years. Lawson specializes in pet and food-related articles, utilizing her 15 years as a sous chef and as a dog breeder, handler and trainer to produce pieces for online and print publications.
Take a small piece of each of the treats your dog seemed to enjoy and place them side by side on the floor. Lead the dog to the treats and point them out with your fingers. Turn the dog loose and allow him to sniff the treats at his own leisure. The treat he gobbles up with the most enthusiasm is the one he likes best.
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Our mission is to help save dogs and cats’ lives through our educational content. To support our efforts, this page may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases – at no cost to you.
As Preventive Vets dog behavior expert and lead trainer at Pupstanding Academy, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement and force-free methods. With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization.
Cathy is certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, holding both the CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA designations. Cathy is a Fear Free Certified Certified Professional, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, and the Dog Writers Association of America.
When shes not geeking out about dogs, you can find her reading, hiking with her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis, or paddleboarding.
A note for our readers: If you have an urgent question and are unable to ask your veterinarian, you can use the Ask a Vet service that will give you access to a veterinarian for 7 days for $1.