There's an old saying that goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." The same can be said for dogs and treats. When you give your dog a treat every time she does something good, she'll learn to associate those good behaviors with something that makes her happy. Eventually, she'll be so well-trained that you won't need to offer her treats anymore—the good behavior will become its own reward.
How to Reward Your Dog With Treats
Of course, not just any old treat will do. For one thing, you don't want to overindulge your pup and end up with an obese dog on your hands. Treats should be small, easily digestible, and healthy. Some of our favorite dog treats are all-natural antlers, which are packed with nutrients and minerals that are essential for your dog's health.
In addition to being healthy, the treat you choose should also be something your dog loves. If she turns up her nose at her kibble but gobbles up table scraps, then chances are she'll be more likely to obey commands if she knows there's a tasty morsel in it for her. Pay attention to what gets your dog's tail wagging and use that as motivation for training sessions.
When it comes to rewarding good behavior, timing is everything. The treat should be given immediately after the desired behavior is displayed, so your dog makes the connection between the two. If you wait too long, she won't understand what she did to deserve the treat and the positive reinforcement will be lost.
Conclusion:
Rewarding your dog's good behavior with treats is a great way to train her and teach her what you expect from her. Just make sure that the treats you choose are healthy and something that your pup loves, so she'll be motivated to keep up the good work!
