Dogs are much easier to train when you offer them a reward. These include food, toy play, tummy rubs or simply having your full attention. What does your dog respond best to?
If you’ve been to one of our Perfect Pet courses, you’ll know that we give you homework to do even before you’ve started the course.
Finding out about your dog
We ask you to do an audit with your dog, to find out their five favourite foods, toys, touches, places, and people.
Perhaps you wondered why we do this?
Most people, including us, use food as a reward in training most of the time. Food is a great reward, but it’s not always the best one for every dog. Some dogs prefer other things.
Food is better for certain types of training, such as loose lead walking, though even with that you can use toys.
Food can get you so far – pretty far, actually – but it’s not the whole answer.
Greedy dogs may always respond to food.
Does your dog respond well to some cuddles?
But some dogs prefer toy play and, in some circumstances such as recall, toy play may be a better option than food as the reward when your dog comes running back.
Perhaps your dog may prefer their favourite rub or tickle.
Others may prefer simply to have your full attention.
Variety is the spice of life
Having a mix of foods and other rewards to hand means you can keep training interesting for your dog as they will never know what they will get next in that training reward lottery.
At the core of all solid, successful, long-lasting training is building a solid relationship with your dog. That’s why we focus on that in so many of the training games in our Perfect Pet course.
So if you want a strong and lasting relationship with your dog why not come and join us. And tell all your friends!
Use food, toys, petting and access to favourite places to build a strong, lasting relationship with your dog.
Then training is easy.
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol
