As a proud dog owner, I know the immense joy and companionship our canine friends bring into our lives. But when it comes to training, finding the right treats can feel like a daunting task. After all, a well-timed, high-value treat can be the difference between a successful training session and a frustrating one. That’s why I’m thrilled to share with you my top picks for the best dog treats for training your furry companion.
The kind of dog treat you use when training your dog can make a big difference in how successful your training sessions are1. The right dog training treat can help a dog focus more easily around distractions. Many dog owners are unsure what kind of treat they should use with their dogs, as there are so many options available. The key is to use whatever training treat your dog enjoys the most. However, knowing how to “grade” your dog’s treats and keeping them varied will benefit you in a few ways – it will allow you to train new behaviors faster, fade out the use of food treats more effectively, keep your dog more focused and responsive around distractions, prevent boredom with the “same-old” treat, and better manage your dog’s treat calorie intake.
Key Takeaways
- The right dog training treats can make a big difference in the success of your training sessions.
- Knowing how to “grade” your dog’s treats and keeping them varied can help you train new behaviors faster, fade out food treats more effectively, and keep your dog focused and responsive around distractions.
- 1 The best dog treats for training include Happy Howie’s Dog Food Roll (Turkey), Zuke’s Mini Naturals, Beef Lung, Freeze Dried Liver Treats, Freeze Dried Chicken Treats, and Kong Stuff’n.
- 1 Happy Howie’s Dog Food Roll in turkey flavor is a high-value and versatile treat suitable for dogs of all sizes.
- 1 Zuke’s Mini Naturals are pea-sized pre-sliced training treats that can be broken into smaller pieces, making them convenient for training sessions.
Understanding High, Medium, and Low-Value Dog Treats
As a dog owner, understanding the difference between high, medium, and low-value dog treats is crucial for successful training and rewarding your canine companion. The majority of dogs are highly motivated to work for, making treats the preferred rewards in positive reinforcement dog training2. By utilizing a variety of treat values, you can effectively motivate your dog and maintain their enthusiasm during training sessions.
What are High-Value Dog Treats?
High-value dog treats are typically moist or freeze-dried, extra smelly, and something a dog doesn’t get very often outside of training sessions3. Examples include tiny pieces of high value dog treats such as chicken, liverwurst, tripe, or xylitol-free peanut butter3. These high value treats should be used when first introducing a brand new behavior, in highly distracting environments such as group training classes, when rewarding a dog for a quick or high-quality response to a cue, during important socialization and proactive exposure training for puppies, and when working on counter conditioning as part of a behavior modification plan for issues like leash reactivity, aggression, anxiety, or fear3.
What are Medium-Value Dog Treats?
Medium-value dog treats are usually semi-moist or dry treats made from ingredients a dog doesn’t get in their regular food3. These medium value dog treats are given more frequently during training sessions and in everyday routines than high-value treats3. Medium-value treats should be used when maintaining an already learned behavior, in mildly distracting environments, throughout the day for good behavior, and as part of regular enrichment activities3.
What are Low-Value Dog Treats?
Lower-value treats are usually dry and crunchy, and they tend to be lower in calories than high and medium-value treats3. Many dog owners use their dog’s regular food as low value dog treats3. Low-value treats should be used if a dog performs a requested cue with a “C” grade performance, throughout the day to encourage continued good behavior, in low to no distraction training environments, as part of regular enrichment activities, and when working on fading out the use of treats for a specific behavior3.
Rotating different types of high value dog treats helps maintain a dog’s interest and enthusiasm during training2. Additionally, small, pea-sized treats are recommended for frequent reinforcement during extended training sessions, ensuring focus is maintained2. Recognizing the discrepancy in treat value can prevent misconceptions about a dog’s preferences, as a dog may ignore a lower-value treat in a distracting environment2. By strategically using high, medium, and low-value treats, you can effectively reinforce your dog’s training and strengthen the bond between you2.
| Treat Type | Characteristics | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| High-Value Dog Treats | – Moist or freeze-dried – Extra smelly – Infrequent outside of training |
– Introducing new behaviors – Highly distracting environments – Quick/high-quality responses – Puppy socialization – Behavior modification |
| Medium-Value Dog Treats | – Semi-moist or dry – Made from uncommon ingredients – Given more frequently |
– Maintaining learned behaviors – Moderate distractions – Everyday routines – Regular enrichment |
| Low-Value Dog Treats | – Dry and crunchy – Lower in calories – Often regular dog food |
– Satisfactory performances – Encouraging good behavior – Low/no distractions – Fading out treat use |
Conducting a Dog Treat Taste Test
To determine the training treats your dog will most enjoy and respond to best, you can set up a dog treat taste test for your pup. This new preference ranking test using food delivery toys can help you assess your dog’s food preferences4.
Start by selecting a few different treat options to try, varying the protein type, texture, and ease of delivery. Give your dog a choice between the different treats, observing which ones they show the most interest in. Rotate through different high value dog treats, medium value dog treats, and low value dog treats to get a sense of your dog’s preferences4.
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals, considered the best overall dog training treat, offers 330 treats in a 6 oz. bag, with each treat containing 3 calories4.
- Full Moon Organic Training Treats, named the best organic option, provides 175 treats per 5-ounce bag, with each treat also having 3 calories4.
- Pet Botanics Training Reward, recommended for puppies, includes 500 treats per bag and each treat is 3 calories4.
- Redbarn Protein Puffs, best for protein intake, consists of 275 treats with 0.5 calories per treat4.
- Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats, ideal for large dogs, contains 150 treats with 3 calories per treat4.
- Buddy Biscuits Training Bites, the best budget option, features 500 treats per bag, with each treat having 1.5 calories4.
This taste test not only enhances scientific methodology but also enriches your dog’s quality of life by offering mental and physical stimulation during the testing process4. By understanding your dog’s preferences, you can tailor your training approach and ensure they are motivated and engaged throughout the process.
Best dog treats for training: Top Recommendations
When it comes to training your canine companion, the right dog treats can make all the difference. From high-value rewards to low-calorie options, the choice of treats can significantly impact the success and efficiency of your training sessions. Let’s explore the best dog treats for training and discover the perfect options to motivate your furry friend.
High-Value Dog Training Treats
My go-to high-value treats include small pieces of turkey hotdog, plain chicken, string cheese, and Vital Essentials Minnows, Northwest Naturals Lamb Liver, and Stella & Chewy’s Beef Heart treats5. These treats are moist, smelly, and something the dogs don’t get very often outside of training, making them irresistible and highly effective in keeping your dog’s attention and motivation during sessions.
Medium-Value Dog Training Treats
When it comes to medium-value treats, I find Zuke’s Mini Naturals, Redbarn’s Cheese Protein Puffs, and Charlee Bear Liver Crunchy Treats to be excellent choices6. These semi-moist or dry treats are made from ingredients the dogs don’t get in their regular food, and they can be given more frequently during training and daily routines without compromising your dog’s overall diet.
Low-Value Dog Training Treats
For lower value rewards, I like to use my dog’s FirstMate dry food or break up IMK9’s Mutt Love Coconuts dry treats. My younger dog also loves the Wild Eats Sweet Potato treats that I break up into small pieces as training treats5. These lower calorie, dry and crunchy treats are great for fading out the use of food rewards in training, allowing you to transition to more non-food-based rewards as your dog’s training progresses.
Remember, the key to successful training is finding the right balance of high, medium, and low-value treats that keep your dog engaged and motivated throughout the process. Experiment with different options and observe your dog’s preferences to discover the perfect treats for your training sessions.
Conclusion
Selecting the right training treats for your dog is crucial for successful training sessions and a happy, healthy pet7. By understanding the differences between high, medium, and low-value treats, and conducting a treat taste test to determine your dog’s preferences, you can choose the most effective rewards to motivate and reinforce your pup’s positive behaviors8. Remember, the key is to provide a variety of treat options, from freeze-dried proteins to low-calorie crunchy bites, to keep your dog engaged and focused during training7.
Throughout the training process, it’s essential to instantly mark and reward a good performance during sessions, as recommended9. Additionally, limiting training sessions to three minutes in the early stages and using both body language and verbal cues can enhance your dog’s learning experience9. As your dog becomes more proficient, varying the delay in marking and treating can further solidify their understanding of the commands9.
By keeping these tips in mind and selecting the right mix of high, medium, and low-value treats, you’ll be well on your way to a successful training journey with your furry companion8. Enjoy the process, and remember that a balance between taste and nutrition is key to maintaining your dog’s overall well-being8.
