I will start by telling you that I, for one. was against using dog training treats in the
beginning.
As a professional trainer, I feel it's important to take a dynamic approach when
communicating with dogs and to develop a training plan that not only gets us from point A to B, but builds the
bond between dog and handler.
There is no question in my mind that training with food works. It is
safe and forgiving of judgment and timing errors for the novice handler.
The three most widespread arguments against employing food as a motivator in dog training are:
1. The dog will only work when treats are present.
2. Distraction-proofing with treats is ineffective.
3. It cheapens the bond between dog and handler.
The myth that food-trained dogs always need to see food up front CAN occur with poorly executed food training.
Though we utilize a dog training treat method, our training program takes the dog through four phases of
training where the dog ultimately learns to perform with no treats or food regardless of the circumstances.
The second reservation to food or treat training is that it is ineffective if the dog is distracted with a
competing motivator — something the dog wants more than the food or treat. I am of the opinion that food is
a valuable tool to teach a dog various commands.
However, food alone will not establish control.
Enforcing commands is a later phase of training and necessary in order to proof and generalize a behavior.
Therefore, we are able to train and establish control at all times, regardless of a distraction.
The last and more popular problem people have with food training is the feeling that the dog "should"
perform without a dog training treat. Once food is used to train the dog, the dog has been corrupted and the bond
between person and dog has been dirtied.
I feel the opposite. The dog has to eat anyway. No one will
ever convince the dog that food is a bad thing or that he/she shouldn't like it. The choices are to either
give dog treats for free, or use dog training treats as a tool to teach the dog what we feel is constructive.
Simply put, we teach the dog that they have full access to food and treats. We are not in competition for the
food nor their attention. The dog learns that they control their access to the food.
In this way,
many handlers find that they become more powerful, more effective, than what could have been achieved through
heavy-handed correction or coercive handling.
Dog training treats, in my professional opinion, are an effective method for dog training
when used in conjunction with other techniques.
Learn more about the types of dog training programs offered by Neuman K-9
Academy.
Other pages you may find helpful:
Dog Training Articles
Neuman K-9 Academy FAQs
Testimonials
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