Selecting and using treats that motivate your pet
High-value treats are foods that your pet finds significantly more appealing than their regular meals. These treats should be special, reserved only for training sessions, which maintains their value and effectiveness. The "value" is determined by your pet's preferences, not by price or human perception.
A treat's value can vary based on context. The same treat might be high-value in a quiet room but low-value when your pet is distracted by other dogs or exciting environments. Understanding this helps you select appropriate rewards for different training scenarios.
Cooked chicken, turkey, or beef (unseasoned) are excellent high-value options. Cut into small pieces (pea-sized for small dogs, slightly larger for big dogs). These are typically more appealing than commercial treats and are easy to prepare. Freeze-dried liver or other organ meats are also highly motivating for most pets.
Small pieces of cheese (like string cheese or cheddar) are often highly valued. Use in moderation, especially for pets with sensitive stomachs. Some pets are particularly motivated by cheese, making it excellent for difficult training scenarios like resource guarding correction or fear-based training.
Many brands offer soft, smelly training treats designed to be highly appealing. Look for treats that are small, soft (easy to eat quickly), and have strong aromas. Test different brands to find what your pet prefers most.
Always consider your pet's dietary restrictions, allergies, and health conditions. Some pets may have food sensitivities, so introduce new treats gradually. Consult your veterinarian if you're unsure about appropriate treats for your pet's specific needs.
Not all training situations require the same level of motivation. Using a treat hierarchy allows you to match reward value to training difficulty, maintaining your pet's motivation while managing treat consumption.
Regular kibble or basic treats
Use for: Easy behaviors in familiar environments
Commercial training treats
Use for: Moderate difficulty, some distractions
Meat, cheese, special treats
Use for: Difficult behaviors, high distractions, new environments
Reserve your highest-value treats for the most challenging situations, such as fear desensitization, resource guarding work, or training in highly distracting environments. This maintains their effectiveness and prevents your pet from becoming desensitized to them.
Treats should be small enough to be consumed quickly (within 1-2 seconds) so training can continue without interruption. For most dogs, pea-sized pieces are ideal. Larger treats slow down training and can lead to overfeeding. Small pieces also allow for more frequent rewards, which is important for learning.
Prepare treats in advance and store them properly. Cooked meat can be refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen in portions. Keep a treat pouch stocked with your training treats so they're always ready. Soft treats are generally better than hard, crunchy ones because they're consumed faster.
High-value treats are often calorie-dense. Adjust your pet's regular meals to account for training treats to prevent weight gain. Many owners reduce meal portions on training days or use part of the daily meal as training rewards. Consult your veterinarian about appropriate calorie management for your pet.
Strategic use of high-value treats maximizes their effectiveness:
High-value treats are essential for effective clicker training.
Keep high-value treats easily accessible during training.
High-value treats are crucial for trade-up exercises.
Use high-value treats to reward alternative greeting behaviors.