If you're training your dog with positive reinforcement, you're doing a great job! This is one of the best ways to educate your dog. Giving your furry little friend a treat will help reward (and enhance) his behaviour.
Treating your dog with respect by giving him his own food is not only healthier, but also more nutritious.
Do dog treats only serve to educate? No! They can also serve to create a relationship of greater trust and love with your dog friend.
However, at Dogalyo, we want to give you all the information we can, so here are a couple of tips:
Be moderate with dog treats!
Remember that treats are a supplement to your dog's diet and not his main food source.
If you give your dog lots of treats instead of their regular food, you could be preventing them from getting the nutritional values they need! In addition, treats are often more fattening than regular pet food, so your pet could become overweight.
Dogs should never eat more than 10% of their food in treats, no matter how delicious they may be.
Read also: Toxic Food For Dogs - What They Should Never Eat
What are the best treats for dogs?
As you know, there are lots of different types of dog treats on the market! They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, textures, and flavors, and are made with a variety of different ingredients. However, not all of these treats are perfect for your dog!
Ideally, you should choose treats that are delicious and healthy. If the treat has a lot of sugar and fat, don't buy it! Choose the treat with the highest quality.
On the other hand, one aspect you can take into account is the size of your dog. If you give your dog too much or too little treats, you could cause an esophageal obstruction!
Your dog also has preferences!
Each dog has a different preference for cookies, either softer or crunchier. Cookies without cereals are usually the favorite!
Read also: The Best High-Value Dog Training Treats
How to train your dog using treats?
Even today, there are people who are not convinced about using treats to educate their pet. However, in reality, treats are the ideal positive reinforcement! They help us reinforce our dog's good behavior.
However, if you are in the middle of educating your dog, the best thing is to offer a verbal reinforcement such as "good dog", "very good", or "that's how I like it" in addition to the treat.
Don't reward your dog for having negative attitudes or exhibiting bad behavior! If you do, you'll only be reinforcing their bad habits!
Use dog treats to strengthen your bond with your dog
If you offer your dog treats to reward his good behavior, you will also be strengthening the bond between the two of you!
However, this should not be done to excess, as you could be giving him many more calories than he needs! You don't want your dog to become overweight, do you?