When you bring home a new pup, treats become a go-to reward when training your new furry friend. But did you know it’s possible to train dog without treats?
Treats are highly effective for positive reinforcement training, but they can become habitual for your pet over time. The result? Your dog no longer obeys your commands or displays the desired behavior until you offer a treat.
Cutting out treats completely, however, is not the answer. But you could use alternatives for training a dog without treats!
Why You Shouldn’t Use Treats to Reward Your Dog
Dogs love food and are always ready to eat. So, they’ll scarf things down at the bat of an eye before you even have the time to pay attention and react. This is, in part, what makes treats such a wonderful motivator for reinforcing certain habits.
But what happens when your dog’s behavior becomes dependent on it?
Treats become the be-all and end-all of their training. They don’t focus on responding to the command given to them and instead have their eyes set on getting the treat. This impacts the success of your training and prevents you from forging an emotional connection with your pet.
Factor in allergies and weight management problems, and offering treats to your dog as a reward may be doing more harm to your pet than you realize.
Genius Ways to Reward Your Dog While Withholding Treats
Don’t know how to train a dog without treats? We’ve got you covered!
Instead of using treats as an incentive, try these alternatives to manage your dog’s behavior.
Freedom to Explore
This tactic is one of the best ways to train dog without treats.
Don’t get us wrong; we don’t mean letting them walk you.
But the ability to take control of where they go appeals to scent-motivated breeds like Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, Beagles, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers.
Try loose leash walking and give them a command to “go sniff” so they can explore their instincts without pulling you here and there to catch squirrels or chase bicycles.
Life Rewards
Wondering how to teach a dog to sit without treats? Use real-life rewards.
Real-life rewards are things and activities your pet enjoys; just make sure it’s something that’s not categorized under food. Think snuggles, playtime, and lots of attention!
To use this technique, you must first work on identifying what your dog enjoys.
For example, if your dog loves long walks, get them all geared up for the walk and then ask them to do a couple of tricks — establishing it as a right to passage for a fun activity. If they enjoy running around the backyard, ask them to sit before allowing them to run amok. It’s the Premack principle brought to life.
Here are some types of life awards you can incorporate into your dog’s training plan:
1. Cuddles and Snuggles
Does your dog enjoy being physically close to you? If so, giving it a quality snuggle session, some belly rubs, head pats, and ear scratches can be excellent rewards for their good behavior and obedience.
You can even try a different touch every time to find the one your pup loves; it’ll make your furry friend happy and enhance the bond you share.
However, keep in mind not all dogs like touch. If your pet shows signs of discomfort when you touch them, such as ducking away, freezing on the spot, or widening their eyes, take the hint and back off.
2. Toys
Using toys instead of treats is a powerful tool that can transform training from a tedious chore into fun playtime!
This is a great reward that can keep your pet from causing trouble around your home. You can maintain the value of these toys by putting them away so that you keep your dog from accessing them any time they desire.
Offer Praise
A 2016 study has shown that many dogs prefer praise from their person to food. So, if you’re looking to train dog without treats, call your furry friend a good dog, and watch its face light up and its tail start wagging like no tomorrow!
Whenever your dog displays the desired behavior, praise it in a high-pitched voice and loving body language to reinforce those behaviors.
You may have to combine this technique with treats initially, but you can reduce the frequency of giving treats over time and only have praise and appreciation be the main appeal for your dog.
Portion Your Pet’s Food
Treats are supposed to be an exciting reward for a command obeyed. But if you’re not big on treats or do not want to increase your dog’s overall food consumption, you can use a portion of your pet’s food as a reward.
But remember to mix things up to keep it interesting. There are many brands available (check out Wild Earth – Product Review) that provide fresh, all-natural, and tasty meals to encourage your dog.
Consistency is Key
Dogs are creatures of habit. It’s important to establish a particular routine and be consistent with it to bring structure into their life.
Whatever reward type you choose to go with, make sure you deliver it immediately after your dog displays the desired behavior to reinforce the habit.
This process will take time and a lot of effort, but it’s so worth it in the end! It has the potential to enhance your dog’s quality of life and create a stronger bond with you.
In Conclusion
The idea of training dog without treats seems unusual and bizarre, but there are so many great ways to reward your dog for good behavior and encourage it without reaching for treats. When implementing these methods into your training plan, try and test a couple to find what your dog likes best. It’ll ensure greater success while keeping your pet well-behaved and happy!
