Myth Busting: Don’t Use Treats to Train Your Dog Because Then He’ll Need Them
I’ve been training dogs since 2014 and I have used treats throughout my career.
Treats are key for my dog training
In fact, I probably use more treats now — as a more experienced dog trainer — then I did twelve years ago.
Is that a problem?
Are treats actually a crutch?
If you use treats to train your dog, will he need them to behave?
Should a well-trained dog NOT need treats?
It all really depends on what is meant by “needing” treats.
Option #1: “Need treats” as in “want treats”?
If the argument is that you shouldn’t use treats for dog training because then they’ll want them, I disagree.
Dogs are born wanting to eat. Every dog is food motivated to some degree. Otherwise they wouldn’t survive.
Using treats doesn’t make dogs food motivated (although we can do things to increase their motivation).
We’re simply leveraging something that’s already there.
DOG TREATS & YOUR PAYCHECK
Consider your paycheck — it’s actually much like a treat.
Your boss asks you to do things, you do them, and you get a “reward” every month.
Does getting a paycheck mean you “need” it going forward?
Not at all!
You already want (or at least need) an income. We don’t, necessarily, blame your first paycheck for that desire, nor would we expect you to work for free.
Option #2: “Need treats” as “unwilling to comply without”?
Treats are given for a job well-done.
If the argument is that you shouldn’t use treats for dog training because then the dog won’t comply unless you have treats, I disagree.
If the dog needs the treat (or needs to see the treat) in order to perform the behavior, that’s a bribe and that’s a problem.
But treats aren’t automatically bribes.
Good dog trainers are aware that treats can easily become bribes, and so they take steps to prevent it from happening.
Meet the Dog Trainer and Blog Author
Leighann Hurley founded Koinonia Dogs in 2014 and has been a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in the Austin, TX area since 2019.
She's a problem-solver by nature and loves creating cooperation through conflict-free communication so both ends of the leash enjoy an easier life together.
