January is National Dog Training Month

• Posted on 1 January 2018
• By Dr. Jill Tack
• Posted in dogs, healthy treats, january, national dog training month, no dyes, non-GMO, training, treats
• 0

It’s a fact that a good dog trainer is important to help you through the good times—and naughty times—with your new best friend. As the caregiver, it is also important to remember to have some super delectable treats to entice your dog to do what you ask and encourage the good behavior. And it never hurts to have the best treat in class!

It’s a fact that a good dog trainer is important to help you through the good times—and naughty times—with your new best friend. As the caregiver, it is also important to remember to have some super delectable treats to entice your dog to do what you ask and encourage the good behavior. And it never hurts to have the best treat in class!

Is a Treat Just a Treat?

There are several types of treats for Fido. Some things to keep in mind when training with your dog:

• Lower calorie treats help with weight control. These types of treats are often soft and chewy in nature.
• Biscuit-type dog treats are usually not advised for training. It is very easy for a dog to become distracted with the chewing, crunching, and crumbs that are left over on the floor rather than paying attention to the commands given.
• Freeze-dried treats are often used as a ‘jackpot’ treat. Those treats are reserved for a dog that has been working really hard on a tough trick, being out in public or other distracting environments, and the moment it finally clicks is a good time for rewarding him with a ‘jackpot’ treat!

Tricks of the Trade

Tips for maximizing your treat:

• If you are giving high calorie treats often or during a training period, you may need to adjust the food intake for the day so your pet isn’t over-consuming calories.
• If you are training in the evening and your dog isn’t totally interested in your treats, then consider feeding time after your training class instead of before. It is often rewarding for the dog when you have a few different treat offerings in your pocket.

Daily Dog Training

The Association of Professional Dog Trainers shares some reasons to include dog training into your daily regimen:

• Establishes a more positive relationship with your pet.
• Gives a better understanding of your pet’s behavior (and misbehaviors).
• Decreases potential “miscommunications” and day-to-day stress.
• Increases the safety of your family members and guests, as well as for your pet.

You also want to avoid harmful ingredients in your treat sand make certain they are suitable for training. Oftentimes we purchase healthy food, but forget that the treats need to be healthy as well! See the list below to help you make a healthy treat choice. Choosing treats that have limited ingredients, no byproducts, no dyes or colorings, and non-GMO ingredients will benefit your pet’s health as well. Avoid treats high in sugar which can promote unwanted behavior and energetic behavior in pets just the same as when humans consume sugar.

In the end, it’s about having fun with your dog. Our pets enjoy tasty treats for behaving correctly, so we should reward them with treats that have the best possible ingredients.