Treat Value: How Much is This Worth?
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by Diane - Online Dog Coach
If you have chosen to reward your dog with treats while training you might have already discovered that some treats motivate your dog more than other treats. Typically a wet, smelly treat will excite more than a dry kibble.
Motivation is the key word. What will motivate your dog to perform? Bring out the good stuff for the more difficult tasks. How can you determine the value of a treat? It really depends on what your dog likes. Some dogs are not picky at all. They will eat anything. Others stick their nose up at kibble.
In your training you will find that there are exercises, commands, tricks with which your dog might have a more difficult time. This is the time to offer the best treat you have. In your treat pouch have three different values. These could be kibble up to steak leftovers.
Low value treats might be kibble, medium value might be store bought types, and high value could be steak, liver bits or chicken leftovers. Experiment with samples of each value level. You might find that your dog will work for anything.
The most important thing to remember is to praise and reward your dog for any effort. He just wants to please you, so let him know that he has. Enjoy your training.
About the Author
Diane has professionally trained dogs in obedience, agility, and freestyle dog dancing for more than 20 years in Florida and Colorado. Her dogs have competed and have earned titles in AKC and NADAC agility, Obedience, and Flyball.