Rewards – Delightful Dogs

Keep it Simple

We want to see your dog succeed in every training session… so make it easy. Lower distractions, up the value of the reward (especially in a new location).

Distractions- Always start out in a low distraction area (usually your home, in a room with no other people or animals). As your dog understands the behavior your teaching, you can up distractions, just know that sometimes behaviors fall apart in the beginning… just know this is totally normal. Just stay patient and don’t move too fast with the distractions.

Use Good Rewards

A reward is defined by the DOG, not the owner. Some dogs LOVE cherrios, other dogs won’t take it, they prefer cooked hot dogs.

Using food is a great way to TEACH behaviors, but once your dog knows the behavior, start mixing up the rewards, like; toys, walks, access to enjoyable things. Please see my blog on REWARDS. This is an extensive list on different rewards you can use during training.

Reward Good Behavior

This is especially true for new to you dogs. Keep treats out of reach for your dog around the house, so you can reward at any given moment. Anything you see your dog doing that is a behavior you want to see again, reward him/her for that behavior. You can use those treats you have on hand or you can say “good boy/girl”, give a gentle (calm) pat on the head, etc.

Ex: taking treats out when you take your dog out to potty, is a good idea so you can reward him for going in the place you want him to go.

Reinforcers/Rewards

Good reinforcers/rewards are what your dog enjoys. I suggest going through this list and finding what your dog most enjoys and then keeping notes so you can know the best way to reward your pup!

Here is just a list of food/life rewards to use in your training:

Food:

Diced hot dogs
Cut up deli meats (ham, turkey, etc)
Diced liverwurst
Meatballs
Diced bacon
Leftover steak
Bits of burger
Cheese cubes
Diced chicken

Baby/diced carrots
Diced apples
Banana
Blueberries
Vegetable peels

Cherrios
Chunks of canned tuna

From the Pet store:

Freeze dried liver
Wellness pure rewards
Diced Natural Balance food roll or Red Barn food roll
Fruitables
Zukes
Charlee Bears
Old Mother Hubbard Bitz
High quality, grain free kibble

Long Lasting rewards

Kong toys filled with cream cheese, peanut butter, yogurt, or wet dog food, then frozen
Shinbones filled with cream cheese or peanut butter
Dollop of peanut butter on a spoon
Meat based baby food

Life Rewards

Activities

Get out of crate
Go for a walk
Get out of car
Chance to train
Go to park
Go to the training center
Go to beach
Chance to see sheep
Chance to meet someone
Go for a swim
“Go see Mommy”
“Go see Daddy”
Chance to play with another dog
Fetch float-able toys
Fetch a ball
Chance to sniff grass
Chance to do nose work
Cue for a favorite behavior
Agility

Tactile Rewards

Belly rub
Butt scratching
Scratch under the chin
Permission to jump in my lap
Lick persons face
Petting from a stranger

Toys

Tennis ball
Kong squeaky tennis ball
Soccer ball
Frisbee
Squeaky toy
Tug toy
Antlers