When using pet treats as rewards, stick to a plan
By Michelle Posge, DVM
Friday, March 27, 2009
Published in the "Your Pet" column of The Nashua Telegraph.
The column runs on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.
Ask any companion animal veterinarian, and you are likely to hear that dogs have joined the obesity epidemic in America and you should be very mindful of diet and exercise for your dog. Does this mean you shouldn't use treats for training purposes?
After all, do you really need food to train a dog? Shouldn't your dog listen to you because he wants to please you, not because he is being bribed? And what happens if you don't have a treat to give your dog? Will he still listen? If you use treats, especially people food, won't your dog start begging every time someone is eating?
These are common concerns among people who resist using food in canine obedience training. Thankfully, the concerns are unwarranted as long as you use proper training techniques. Weight gain, dependency on food for command response and unwanted begging are only problems when food is handed out imprecisely. They should not be reasons to avoid using food in training, since they can easily be avoided and corrected if you make a mistake.
Some dogs live their life wanting to please their owners. If you are lucky enough to have a dog like this, the use of food to shape or reward good behavior is unnecessary motivation. Verbal praise and a pat on the head is enough. However, many dogs are not eager to please, so consider yourself lucky if you get just one dog with a gratifying temperament in your lifetime.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are the dogs that live their life with the motto, "What is in it for me?" These dogs are smart, but will not follow an obedience command just because you asked them to. Additional motivation will have to be considered. In other words, your dog will follow a command to get/keep something he wants or avoid/stop something he doesn't want. This is the basis of a type of learning called operant conditioning. You can accomplish operant conditioning by focusing on what the animal wants (reward-based training) or what the animal doesn't want (leash correction, electronic collars and so on).
Puppies in my kindergarten classes are taught using reward-based training. Here's why: When puppies are rewarded for their successes, anybody in the family (including young children who are the most likely bite victims statistically) can participate in training. This type of training reinforces the bond between you and your pet because it is enjoyable for both.
On the other hand, training using aversive techniques can have serious consequences if done incorrectly. Punishment is actually very difficult to use appropriately, and when it is done wrong, it can have unintended consequences, such as fear and defensive aggression. These are not easy behaviors to change.
Obedience training with food is not the equivalent of spoiling your dog. Here is how to avoid the pitfalls of using food in training:
• Good expectations: To avoid begging, never feed your dog food while you are eating. If your dog doesn't have the expectation of getting a handout, he will not see the point of "asking."
• Size matters: Keep training treats tasty, but small. Very tasty. Very small. If the food is highly palatable, the small size will keep your dog wanting to work for more.
• No freebies: All treats should be earned. Cut back on the treats that are given just because you want to make your dog happy or because it is part of your routine. Decide what commands you are actively working on from one week to the next, and make sure that treats are only used for those commands.
• Fading: Know how and when to phase out food rewards. This should be a planned part of training, and there are many books that discuss the right technique. Be sure to have a good understanding of this before you set out to use food in dog training.
With these things in mind, you can confidently use treats in obedience training. Of course, reward-based training does not always mean using food. Some dogs are just not motivated by a cookie, but will do anything for a squeaky toy or a tennis ball. The key is to know what your dog likes and show him how to earn it. That way, you both win.
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