There are a variety of ways in which to train a dog. If you want one which works, and is safe, then the use of dog treats (rather than harmful treatments) is recommended by professionals.
When you train your dog, and he produces the desired behavior, you should then give the dog a reward in the form of a treat. If the dog does the wrong thing, or does not do as you have commanded, then the punishment is refusing to give the dog a treat. The dog will learn to connect appropriate behavior with the receiving of treats.
Dog treats can be used to:
-making it easier to train your dog, when combined with praise
-show your dog that he succeeded in pleasing you
-encourage the dog to be obedient, and to enjoy training
-encourage the dog to do as he is commanded, knowing he will be rewarded
When to use dog treats.
Dogs should be given a treat immediately after they have produced the required behavior, so that they learn to connect the behavior with the reward. You should not use treats too much, however, because they will no longer be effective and just make the dog dependent on them.
For best results, you should only give your dog treats during training sessions. At other times, if you want to treat your dog, you should use some other kind of treat.
If, for example, you want to train your dog to respond to the command ‘down’, then say the word ‘down’ whilst the treat is right in front of his nose, moving it downwards. If he does as you want, then give him the treat, as well as a pat and words of praise (eg. “good boy”). Keep repeating this routine until he really understands.
When you are further along with the training, try praise without giving treats. You want the dog eventually to obey commands without always having a treat. Occasional treats are fine, but do not allow him to see the treat first.
Types of treat
Some treats are purely for reward, rather than any nutritional benefit, whereas others are good for the dog’s health, or help to clean his teeth.
Where can you buy treats?
You can buy dog treats in pet shops, online, and in grocery and specialty stores, for between $5 and $30. There are also discounts for buying in bulk, and some very expensive varieties too, in fact a huge variety of types to help you train your dog. You can even make them yourself using recipes which can be found in books or on the internet.