Don't treat your dog unless he does something to earn it. Have him sit or beg or stand or do something you've asked of him
before he gets a treat. Why?
- Free treats diminish their training value
- Treats are like money to people (or allowance to children) they have great value - the dog learns he has to do something to earn a treat
More on what is a "treat":
- A small piece of kibble is a healthy treat that works as well as other goodies to obtain proper behavior.
- "Good dog!" -- rewarding good performance with a treat and a good dog, gives the spoken "good dog" power when used without a treat.
- An activity can also be a treat. Have your dog sit and wait before you throw a ball. Throw the ball and have him wait until you say, "go get your ball!" Don't let him get the ball until he does it correctly. His reward is getting the ball and getting the "good dog!"
