While some dogs prefer to work for toys or play, we are focusing on food-based treats in this article. There is a lot to take into consideration when deciding on treats for your dog for training. Just like us they have preferences, and those preferences change with the day and circumstances of the day. We want to be sure to pick something that works for your dog, that is healthy and safe and that you are happy with also.
Shop-bought vs real food
Go into any pet shop and there are walls of different dog treats looking back at you. A lot of these treats are fine but when we are starting training or introducing something new, we are going to use a lot. Treats need to be broken up into very small pieces but still be tasty enough that your dog will work for them. We also need to make sure they are not too crumbly and therefore too difficult to work with. If you must go for shop-bought, I recommend MaxiZoo Bonies Mini. They are tiny, very tasty and easy to use. They can even be broken up further during training.
I do, however, prefer real food over shop bought treats as you know exactly what is in there, and you can keep a better eye on your dog's overall nutrition. If your dog's tummy is fine with it, my go-to is plain roast turkey (sandwich packs in the shops) which you can mix with some of their dry kibble and some raw veg such as courgette slices cut into small pieces, carrot discs cut into smaller pieces, broccoli slices or frozen peas, which are particularly good on a hot summer's day. You can also add in some fruit, again particularly in the summer. Raspberries, blueberries and cut up strawberries are great treats but can be a bit prone to staining your fingers and clothes, so do be careful.
Size matters
We don't want something huge that your dog will sit down to make a meal of. We want lots of little treats that, in the early days, can be fired off every time they get something right. Aim for cutting the treats into pieces no bigger than half a cm on any side.
Thinking about treats
Listen to your dog
While there are some very tasty treats on the market, remember that your dog is an individual, just like you. They may like a treat for a while and then go off it. Or maybe something you think should be seen as a treat isn't by your dog. Don't expect them to work for something they don't actually want.
Even a small head turn away from the treat or ignoring the treat can mean your dog is not happy with it.
Watch their tummies
We always need to make sure that your dog is healthy and happy. Changes in diet are ideally done slowly, so that there is no upset to the tummy. If you haven't done training before, practice with the treats before coming to class by giving some of the new treats throughout the day for good stuff. Have a look at our tricks and training blog posts to try them out.
Balance with daily food
Training should not impact your dog's health and food intake. Be sure to measure out your dog's food for the day and balance that with the treats you are going to use throughout the day. Amount is not enough on its own to consider. We need to look at the overall nutritional content. This is why it is best to use a mix of real food, as discussed above, rather than shop-bought treats.