I'm often asked if I use treats to train my dogs and the answer is an unqualified yes. It's the logical way to teach young pups the basic positions of sit, heel, come and lie down.
But like all things in life it has a flip side.
As dogs develop they learn you carry treats. Dogs are great anticipators and will bounce around knowing those treats are for them. Training becomes difficult if not impossible as the dog's mind is totally distracted by the tit-bit to come.
Once I have a pup training on treats I make them work harder for less frequent rewards. Little by little I reduce the amount of treats until they disappear altogether. I like to do this before the pup reaches six months old.
Dishing out treats beyond this is the major cause of mouthing and jumping up neither of which is desirable. If your dog mouths you get rid of the treats immediately.
Another reason to ditch treats with a maturing dog is they don't work when you most need to have control. Try offering a biscuit to a dog chasing a rabbit, cat or another dog and see just how ineffective it is.
The only way to control an adult dog is through leadership and respect. Any time my dogs are off lead they are engaged with me. To them I am the most exciting game in town. They come when I call because they don't want to miss anything.
I work really hard to fulfil their need for 'play' but if I were to leave them to their own devices they'd be off hunting or chasing. Trying to call them back by waving a treat would be an exercise in futility.
In summary treats are good to get young pups started on the basics after that they become a serious distraction.
I have new classes starting if you want help. Just go to vicbarlow.com or you can text me on 07590-560012.
