Why Your Dog’s Food is the Secret to Better Training: When to Use Treats for Maximum Impact!

Why Your Dog’s Food is the Secret to Better Training: When to Use Treats for Maximum Impact!

If you’re like most dog owners, you’ve probably wondered, “What’s the best way to reward my dog during training?” Well, science is here to help us out! A fascinating study recently revealed that your dog’s daily food could be more powerful than you think when it comes to training, especially when used strategically alongside higher-value treats. So let’s dive into how this works and how you can use this knowledge to supercharge your dog’s training.

The Science Behind Food Rewards

The study in question, conducted by scientists, found that dogs not only respond well to food rewards, but the type of food and the context in which it’s given can have a significant impact on their learning. Specifically, the researchers discovered that dogs are highly motivated by their daily kibble when it’s used as a reward in the early stages of training. But here’s where it gets really interesting: when dogs were asked to perform more challenging behaviors or operate in more distracting environments, higher-value treats (like their favorite snacks) led to even better results.

Why This Matters for Your Dog’s Training

At Street Wise Canine, we’ve seen these principles in action firsthand. When we use your dog’s regular kibble during the initial phases of training, we’re not just saving the high-value treats for later—we’re actually helping your dog learn more effectively. Why? Because dogs, much like us, are creatures of habit. When they associate their daily food with learning new commands, they’re more likely to view training as a normal part of their routine. This builds consistency and reinforces the behaviors you want to see.

But here’s the kicker: once your dog has the basics down, or when you’re asking them to perform in more challenging situations—like responding to a command at the dog park or staying focused with distractions around—that’s when we bring out the big guns. Those higher-value treats serve as a powerful motivator, making your dog more eager to please and more focused on getting the job done.

How to Apply This in Your Training

 1. Start with Their Daily Food: During the early stages of training, use your dog’s daily kibble as a reward. This could be when you’re teaching new commands or reinforcing basic behaviors like sitting, staying, or coming when called.

 2. Reserve High-Value Treats for Challenges: Once your dog is comfortable with the basics, start introducing higher-value treats, but only when you’re asking them to perform more difficult tasks or in more distracting environments. For example, if you’re practicing recall in the backyard with minimal distractions, kibble might be enough. But if you’re at the park with other dogs around, a tasty treat could make all the difference.

 3. Create a Gradual Progression: As your dog masters each level of difficulty, gradually increase the complexity of the tasks and the environments in which they’re performed. By doing this, you’re conditioning your dog to respond well, no matter where they are or what’s happening around them.

Why It Works

The key to this approach is understanding that not all rewards are created equal—at least not in your dog’s mind. By using their daily food for routine training, you’re normalizing good behavior. Then, when you introduce higher-value treats, you’re giving your dog that extra motivation to push through challenges and distractions. It’s like rewarding yourself with a piece of chocolate after a tough workout—you know it’s special, and so does your dog.

Final Thoughts

Training your dog is a journey, and like any journey, it’s all about taking it one step at a time. By using your dog’s daily food as the foundation for their training and saving the special treats for when you really need them, you’re setting your dog up for success. So next time you’re working on that tricky command or trying to keep your dog’s attention in a busy environment, remember this strategy. Not only will it make training more effective, but it’ll also make it a lot more fun for both of you!

If you’re ready to take your dog’s training to the next level, reach out to us at Street Wise Canine. We’re here to help you and your dog thrive, one kibble at a time!