Whether watching AGT or Westminster Kennel Dog Show you’ll note that no trick or trot goes unrewarded without a treat. For even the most intelligent breed or obedient personality, dog treats for positive reinforcement are instrumental in training. But in the manner that no snack is created equally when it comes to nutritional requirements the same is true for today’s topic. If you plan on do-it-yourself (DIY) training for your pup you’ll want to consider the following.
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but with the right treats, you may be able to break that misnomer. The Veterinary Centers of America reports that older dogs exhibit significant improvement in cognitive function with respect to learning and memory of learned tasks when they have an antioxidant-fortified diet. This falls in line with the veterinarian industry’s recommendation to look for antioxidants when choosing dog treats. But even if you’re training a younger dog these antioxidants are essential to stave off cognitive decline in the future and are therefore important to mental function at any point in their life.
For dog treats to be successful when providing positive reinforcement during instruction they must be small. This is especially true for dogs who respond well to a high rate of reinforcement (how often you give rewards). If more than “bite-size” your dog’s chewing will divert their attention and they will get full too quickly. Once they are full, your rewards will not be as effective. The American Kennel Club states:
“As with any treat used for training, make sure you use small pieces! Treats should be pea-sized or smaller so your dog doesn’t get too full.” (American Kennel Club)
Chew Love Mini Bites are perfectly portioned for training, and are available in Beef & Banana and Chicken & Apple.
Your dog won’t lift a paw if they don’t actually enjoy the taste of the treats used in their training regime. When considering which ones to use, look for ingredients that dogs are known to enjoy as a reward. It’s important to note that what you may consider to be tasty is not necessarily the same for them. For instance, cabbage has proven to be a tasteful addition to some of our treats, while certain species of squash (also found in our ingredients list) adds to a favourable flavour profile. Then there are dehydrated strawberries in addition to bananas which are treat ingredients we can all appreciate.
While we referenced (above) key natural ingredients that help create a tasty treat for training, your dog will have the final say. Begin by choosing treat packs from our store that you think your particularly fickle (or not) pup will like and see how they respond during training. You may hit it out of the dog park from the get-go, or you may need to try another flavour or variety. The latter trait is also important because even though your dog may love one treat at first, it may become less effective as training progresses over time.
If you sense that your dog’s enthusiasm is fading, change to a different reward. Alternatively can even use a number of different varieties during a training session so that your dog eagerly anticipates what comes next. While our Mini Bites are the perfect size to incentivize them during instruction, you may also consider Chew Love Nuggets to offer that variety, available in beef & veggie, chicken & veggie, salmon & veggie, or duck. Our single-ingredient deer or lamb nuggets are also great for larger breed dogs and/or shorter training sessions.
Contact us if you have any questions about the best treats for dog training, shipping, or special promotions.
