Getting the most out of your food rewards

Personally I always pay my dogs for recall. It's one of our most valued lifeskills and the one skill that if we didn't have, it would significantly affect our daily lifes.

Sometimes we use toys, other times praise and affection, but we also often use food rewards.

Now if you want to get the full benefit of food this isn't as simple as remembering to carry treats. Food is a such a great tool and can be much more effective if we use it to its full potential.

1. Pay Appropriately If my dog does an ok recall I might give them a lower value kibble type training treat. If its a good one they might get higher value cheese or pate. If its whip round run at speed amazing they probably get a jackpot of multiple treats. The same goes for the environment, a quiet field low value will probably cut it, but a busy park with people and dogs probably means I'll need cheese or pate.

2. Vary Delivery We don't just have to feed to our dogs mouth. What does your dog enjoy? We can throw a treat for the dog to chase, we can scatter them for dogs to find and sniff, we can throw one to catch. This makes it much more interesting for the dogs.

3. Mix it up Bugsey's favourite thing is cocktail sausage. So why don't I save this just for recall? If I always use the same reward Bugsey has a simple choice - this fun thing over here or that piece of sausage back at mum. Now if I carry 4 or 5 different treats of mixed value he doesn't know what its going to be. This increases his motivation and his choice is harder because he wants to find out what amazing thing it will be this time round. By removing the either or he is much more likely to recall.

These food tips don't just apply to recall. You can use them in all aspects of training. Invest some time finding out what your dogs prefer fish, chicken, ham, beef, cheese, sausage, carrot, blueberries etc. Your dogs will be much more motivated and you will soon appreciate it when you see how your dog is much more interested in what you want them to do.