How do I train my dog with snacks?

Snacking in the early stages

A treat is the ultimate reward for your dog. So a snack is ideal to use during training, especially in the first training phase. After all, for puppies, everything is still completely new, including you. In that short time, you have not yet built a very close bond, so a pat on the head or a big "good dog" does not yet mean much to him. But food? Of course that will make him wag his tail.

To prevent your dog from eating all over himself during training, keep the treat as small as possible. Some dogs are already fine with doing a trick for a dry dog treat. Keep in mind that the number of treats per day should not exceed 10% of the daily calorie intake.

Use snacks for basic commands

For teaching basic commands like 'sit' and 'down', treats are an ideal tool. During training, you work with a kind of luring technique. You hold the treat in front of his nose and move it so that he follows the treat with his nose and adopts the position you want. Your pup will in fact automatically sit down if you hold the treat above his head, and he will lie down if you first hold the treat in front of his nose and then slowly place it on the floor.

You can also teach him to follow you by walking around learning with a treat in your hand. While 'luring' him into the right position, repeat the command clearly several times. In time, your pup will begin to see the connection between the command, the action and the reward. Sit! = sit = score! That's how you took the first steps in the training process.

Stop snacks in later stages of training

When your pup has mastered the commands, it is time to slowly phase out using treats as rewards. Together, you should work on the idea that he follows commands for you, not just for the treat in your hand. Start doing this when he does the command correctly about 90% of the time. Keep practising the commands, but alternate the rewards. Sometimes he gets a treat, other times a sweet pat on his head or you go play together. This way, the reward remains a surprise and he will not always expect a treat for his behaviour. Together, you build a strong bond based on trust and fun.

Another fine tip to avoid 'bribing' your pup is to give the reward only after he has followed the command correctly. Keep the snack hidden until your dog has done the action correctly. Only then open your hand so he can see the reward and munch on it. This way, your pup follows the command because you want it, not just because he is hungry for a snack 😉.