**What are the best dog training treats**
There are so many puppy/dog treats on the market. Lots of healthy ones too, but whatever treats you’re giving your dog or puppy, it’s still extra food on top of their daily quota. So, what is the best training treat?
Motivation is the key to your dog or puppy training, so it must be something that excites your dog, but you also want it to be healthy. Check out this article for how to use your dog or puppy’s food to support your training, to reduce or even eliminate completely, the need for treats of any kind.
**Chapter 1: Food, the Unsung Hero**
In the early days of your puppy’s life, their regular kibble or wet/raw food can be used as training rewards, rather than it being put in a bowl and given freely. Your pup learns doing the things you ask is the only way to get fed.
Your dog or pup’s daily quota of food becomes their training reward, particularly when training in the home or the garden. This also helps to keep your training on track and to give your dog the mental stimulation needed. This method, known as hand-feeding, not only helps with focus, but it also nurtures the bond between you both.
Break their daily food allowance into small portions, use it throughout the day in short training bursts. Being fed becomes great fun, not just a quick, few seconds of entertainment, in a bowl! Plus, hand-feeding isn’t limited to just training. You can scatter some kibble in your garden or hide it around your home to give your pup a mental workout.
The magic of hand-feeding is so beneficial. Not only does it aid in training and bonding, it provides mental stimulation and it has a positive impact on your dog’s health and weight. Your dog or pup gets the sustenance they need, and you get well-behaved, healthy companion.
**What if my dog is not a pup?**
What if your dog is no longer a pup? What if you’ve adopted a rescue dog? Hand-feeding isn’t just for pups; it’s a fantastic way to build a strong bond and focus with any dog, regardless of age.
**Chapter 3: Will I need high value treats too?**
As your puppy reaches adolescent or when you venture into more distracting environments, you may find the need for higher-value treats. If you’re not using these higher-value (smelly) treats all the time for training in the home and garden, they will have much more value when you are out around distractions.
Remember for your dog or puppy, you must have the motivator, to encourage your dog to do the things you need them to do.
But here’s a little secret: you can mix these high-value treats with your pup’s regular food. This way, you strike a fine balance between their healthy diet and the extra smelly rewards that keep them focused around distractions.
**Chapter 4:The best training treats is your dog or puppy’s food**
There it is, in a nutshell. Use your dog or puppy’s food for training in the home and garden. Granted, it is harder if you’re using only a wet food or raw. Maybe think about using a mix of kibble and your wet/raw feed. Use the kibble for training and make them work for the wet/raw food by putting it in a kong.
Make mealtimes last all day, with short bursts of fun training activities.
You can find out more about our training services, using the links below.
