tl;dr: If you want the dog to continue doing a behavior, keep paying treats every time the dog does the behavior.
Hey friends,
If the idea of giving your dog treats to do things forever sounds like a lot, I get it. When I heard we’d have to keep giving our dog treats forever, I felt daunted. Keeping track of snacks for myself and our kid is challenging enough. Now I always have to have treats on me or go get them? Or our dog will stop doing the thing?
Yes, you have to pay right away, every time, to keep the dog motivated to do the thing. 100%, this is work for the person too! And it’s possible to bake this into your day so it’s sustainable.
Let’s dive in on how animals learn, what happens if you STOP using treats, and how to make training with treats easier.
Why treats work
Dogs learn to do things to get more of the stuff they like. For example, our dog has learned to:
move under our kid’s chair at dinner because that’s where food falls
jump on our bed to sleep because it’s warm and close to her people
look back at Dad on a walk because Dad then gives a snack
We can use food to teach a dog new skills. The dog learns that doing a thing works to get food, so the dog keeps doing the thing. The food makes it worth the dog’s effort.
Some dogs are most motivated by toys or play. For most dogs, food is the reward that is most motivating.
For example, I wanted our dog Trixie to come when we called. I said “Bingo!” and then offered Trixie a treat bonanza: a big handful of hot dog bits. Trixie quickly learned that if she hears Bingo and comes over, she always get this amazing reward. Even if she was across the dog park or investigating a gopher hole, she came running for Bingo!
What happens when treats stop
Our son Wren misses nothing Trixie-related. One day on a walk, Wren wanted to walk ahead and Trixie was sniffing in one spot. Wren knew he needed to stay with us. So, for the first time, our kid said Bingo! “Bingo helps Trixie move.” Trixie walked toward Wren and I gave Trixie treats.
Wren started saying Bingo! a lot and at times when I wasn’t around to give treats. Trixie learned that coming for Bingo! does not always mean a jackpot of treats. Pretty soon, Trixie stopped coming for Bingo! when our kid said it.
I switched to teaching Trixie a new emergency recall word, which I only practice when our kid is out of earshot.
Bingo! remains an adorable way that our son encourages Trixie to come. But Bingo! is no longer a reliable recall cue, because Trixie stopped getting treats every time when she came for Bingo!
Pay the dog with treats every time if you want the dog to continue doing the behavior.
How to make it easier to use treats forever
Using treats forever can sound like a lot. Here’s how I make it easier for myself:
Stocking prepared human food that also works as treats, for example lite shredded cheese, low-sodium sliced turkey, peanut butter.
Cooking proteins that work for meals for a few days for us humans and also as Trixie treats, for example ground beef, chicken, fish.
On hikes, bringing snacks me and Trixie can share like a can of salmon.
Using Trixie’s food (kibble or cooked mix) as treats.
For walks, I put treats in a little container and stick that in a treat pouch or my pocket.
At home, if I need to give Trixie a treat and don’t have any on me, I just do happy talk while I go grab a treat from the fridge.
Pro tip: Use treats that require no prep, like string cheese, Baby Bels. or a slice of low-sodium deli turkey. Just tear off tiny pieces as needed for treats.
I’m Ilya — dad to both a kid and a dog. I started Compassionate Dude Dog Training because I’ve lived the challenge of providing snacks to kid, dog, and parent. If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to meet everyone’s needs at once, you’re not alone. I’d love to help.
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