Treats For Dogs

Treats are essential for training. Every dog has to eat, and most dogs will be motivated by a tasty morsel. Whether it is a young puppy or an adult dog, a tiny Chihuahua or a bulky Boerboel, treats are his reward for his hard work.

Treats have the benefit of being easy to carry around, they provide a quick and meaningful reward, and they encourage dogs to learn. When teaching new behaviours, or practising learned behaviours in a new context, aim to use a high-value treat. For behaviours that your dog knows well, you can use a lower value treat or some of his meal ration.

Make sure to use tiny pieces of treats, no bigger than a pea – you want the dog to eat the treat quickly so that you can move on to more training, and i’s also important to prevent weight gain. If your dog has special dietary requirements, speak to your vet about treat options. Don’t believe the myth that using food for training is akin to bribery. You don’t work for free and neither should your dog. Invest in a treat pouch for carrying treats around; there’s nothing worse than a pocket full of treat debris!

Keep In Mind

It is best to avoid salty treats – things like biltong and dry wors – because they make your dog thirsty. Also avoid treats that your dog needs to chew more than twice. You can find a range of treats in store or online at Family Pet Centre, have a look at http://www.familypetcentre.co.za/.

Be mindful that you don’t overfeed your dog either. If you are treating him with chicken pieces for example, you are adding extra protein but not extra carbs, in moderation that will not have a huge impact on his overall weight.