Treats help dogs associate good feelings with their specific actions; science has shown this over and over again. Dogs experiment to discover what behaviors will work for them, requiring open minds, a bit of optimism, and feelings of safety, all built by their humans clearly communicating that doing certain things will always result in a treat or an opportunity to do something fun. When you have a new dog or puppy, grab a wearable treat bag first thing every morning and fill it with tiny treats to give (immediately!) for ANY desirable behavior you see, all day long, because a treat given immediately, every single time a behavior occurs, is necessary in the beginning stages of training. Even with my experienced dogs, you'll rarely find me without treats somewhere nearby; opportunities for teaching new behaviors or polishing up old ones can pop up anywhere, anytime. It's a big mistake to wait for your dog to screw up! Visualize what you don't want your dog to do, prevent those behaviors, and simply give him treats immediately when he does something you like; focus on the behaviors that are the opposite of those you don't want - four feet on the floor, loose leash, chewing on his own toy! You can never be sure exactly what exciting things in the environment you may be competing with, and when your dog chooses to drop what he's doing and run to you, or to walk next to you instead of dragging you to the nearest squirrel, a treat lets him know that's a choice he should make regularly! My current favorite treats include Fromm's Crunchy-Os because dogs like them, they come in several flavors, and they're not messy. The dogs and I love Happy Howie's Meat Rolls, cut up into tiny pieces, for a higher-value reinforcer when behaviors are more difficult or environments are more challenging; shelter dogs love Happy Howie's, too!
One of the things that most people get wrong when using dog treats in their training is that the treat should be classically conditioned to a word that you say, such as the word "Good". In order to achieve the classical conditioning, all you need to do is say the word "Good" before you reward your dog with a treat. What this does for you long-term is to be able to use treats intermittently while still maintaining strong behavior with your dog. I prefer the use of a bait bag to hold my treats during my training sessions and for easy storage. When training, use treats a lot at the beginning stages of your training, you need to establish value of paying attention to you, and show your dog what you want them to learn. This is easiest with treats through the use of lures or free shaping. A lure is when you have a treat in your hand, your dog is sniffing your hand and you move your hand to show your dog how to move their body. A great example of this is when you are teaching your dog to lay down, you lure your dog's body into the down position with the treat in your hand. Free shaping is when you let your dog figure out what you are wanting them to do and as soon as they do it you let them have a treat. An example of this would be if you want your dog to "Sit", you can have your treats in your bait bag and hang out with your dog, when your dog randomly "Sits" you say "Good" then give them a treat. Over time as you do this more and more, your dog will sit more often because you have free shaped the behavior. Luring and free shaping can also be used in combination together, which works very well for most dogs! Treats are an essential part of your training journey with your dog, start off using lots of them, and as your dog's training progresses begin to slowly reduce the number of treats you use while maintaining their behavior. When you dog is fully trained, your treats should be on a "random" reinforcement schedule, which means you'll randomly give your dog a treat during your training. The best treats to use are ones that your dog is highly motivated for! This can be dog dependent, but in general I find that slightly dehydrated and cut up nitrate free hotdogs work very well, pieces of chicken or beef, freeze dried "meal mixers", liver treats, etc....there are so many options on the market today, find something that is budget friendly and that your dog really enjoys!
As people who have raised and gotten to know hundreds of puppies, we've learned that each puppy and dog's need and desire for treats as a training reward is unique. We start using some level of "treat" as soon as puppies start weaning. Dogs are reward based animals in many ways. In our years of raising puppies for training programs and individuals, even from the time they're weaned, some dogs gravitate more toward treats/food as a reward for obtaining desired behavior, while others prefer more praise. We have found that dogs innately respond to both, but we recommend that you really know YOUR dog and what they respond to best. If your dog is more praise motivated, praising them more alongside a less desirable treat like a basic piece of kibble or crunchy treat is excellent for them. However, if your dog is more food motivated, encouraging them with a really high-value treat in a more difficult training situation is best. One of our favorite high-value treats are freeze dried liver treats. We've also used sliced and microwaved quarter-inch pieces of hot dogs which our pups LOVE! Bottom line - get to know your individual dog and what works best for them. Just like people, dogs all respond to different forms of encouragement.
1. Gauge Stress Threshold If your dog refuses treats, it's often a sign they're too stressed or overwhelmed. Dogs under high stress can experience a "switched-off" stomach, meaning food loses its appeal. It's like if you've ever been stressed for a job interview, the last thing you're thinking about is having lunch! People often misinterpret this thinking that their dog is full but that's rarely the case. Treats can be a handy thermometer to gauge how your dog is coping in an environment. Pro Tip: Start training in calm environments and gradually increase distractions. If your dog stops taking treats, pause, reduce the challenge, or give them a break. 2. Never Lure Toward Something Scary Using treats to coax a dog toward something they fear—like a stranger or a loud object—can create internal conflict: "I want the treat, but I don't want to go near that scary thing." This can increase anxiety and damage trust. 3. Keep Treats Small and High-Value Training involves lots of repetition, so use pea-sized pieces to avoid overfeeding. Choose high-value treats like cooked chicken, freeze-dried meat, or a high quality cat biscuit!
I run a large product comparison platform that evaluates pet products and training tools based on how professionals actually use them in real environments. The most effective way to use treats in training is as precise feedback, not a bribe. High-value, soft treats work best for learning new behaviors because dogs can consume them quickly without breaking focus. Treat timing matters more than treat quantity. Rewards should land within one to two seconds of the correct behavior. As skills improve, trainers should fade treats and replace them with variable reinforcement like praise or play. Treats are critical because they accelerate learning and reduce stress. Favorites tend to be small, smelly, single-ingredient treats that can be broken into tiny pieces. Albert Richer, Founder, WhatAreTheBest.com.
Treats are essential in positive reinforcement training because they give dogs immediate, clear feedback. When used with good timing and in small amounts, treats help dogs understand what behavior is being rewarded, build confidence, and stay engaged. High-value, soft treats work best, especially for learning new or challenging behaviors." Skandashree Bali CEO & Co-Founder, Pawland https://mypawland.com
Dog treats work best in training when they're used as communication tools, not bribes. The goal isn't to make a dog dependent on food, but to clearly mark and reinforce the exact behavior you want repeated. One of the most effective approaches is reserving high-value treats for learning moments, not everyday snacking. When dogs realize that certain behaviors consistently earn something special, focus and motivation increase—something many owners notice most in distracting environments. Treat size also matters more than people expect. Tiny, pea-sized pieces keep sessions moving without overfeeding or breaking momentum. Timing is critical. Treats should be delivered immediately after the correct behavior, ideally paired with a marker word like "yes" or a clicker. This clear timing helps dogs understand what they did right and speeds up learning. Treats are also important because dogs don't naturally generalize skills. A behavior learned at home doesn't automatically carry over to a park or busy sidewalk. Thoughtful treat use helps reinforce those behaviors in new environments until they become reliable. As training progresses, treats should be faded gradually, not removed suddenly. Mixing food rewards with praise, play, or access to something the dog wants—like continuing a walk—builds long-term reliability without constant treating. For favorites, soft, low-ingredient treats that can be broken into very small pieces tend to work best. They're quick to eat, easy to digest, and keep the focus on learning rather than chewing. Used thoughtfully, treats don't spoil dogs — they create clarity, confidence, and trust, which are the real foundations of effective training.
Dog treats are one of the most effective tools in a training environment because they provide immediate, positive reinforcement that helps dogs clearly understand which behaviors are being rewarded. The key is to use small high-value treats that can be delivered quickly so training stays fast-paced and engaging without overfeeding. Timing matters just as much as the treat itself. When you reward withing seconds of their good behavior, that helps the dog make a strong association. Treats are especially important for teaching new skills, building confidence, and reinforcing focus in distracting environments. I recommend rotating the treats to keep motivation high and use "higher value" rewards like freeze-dried meat for challenging behaviors, and "lower value" treats, like kibble, for repetition. Ultimately, treats help make training a positive experience, strengthen the bond between the dog and owner, and encourage dogs to learn willingly rather than out of fear or pressure.
I see treats as a way of communicating with my dogs, rather than just bribing them to do what I want. For me, it's best to use small, soft treats that my dogs can wolf down in a second. They keep them focused throughout the training session, and keep things moving. One of the main things that treats help with is timing. When the dog can see the connection between what they do and what they get, they learn faster and with less stress. Consistency is more important than how many treats you use that's not the point. I'm a fan of simple, no-nonsense treats that are low on ingredients. Over time I start cutting back on treats, and relying more on praise and encouragement. Treats can get the ball rolling, but it's trust and repetition that really keep things going in the long term.
As a certified professional dog trainer, I'll say this up front: when used correctly, treats aren't bribery, they're information. Their main goal is to tell the dog, clearly and efficiently, "Yes, you got it right, now do that again." When I'm using treats in a training environment, my biggest "trick" is being intentional about when and how they show up. Let me explain. Firstly, the treat should be faded out of view once the dog has understood what we want him to do. It should therefore no longer be waved around beforehand as we may do during the initial stages of training (the so-called luring stage where we use the treat to guide the dog into a specific position). We ultimately want the dog working because the behavior itself has a history of good outcomes, not because we're holding food in our hands. Timing matters more than the treat itself; if you're too late in delivering the treat, you may be paying the wrong behavior. Treat size is another underappreciated detail. Think in terms of pea-sized morsels rather than whole cookies. Training is about repetition, not calories. I'd rather deliver ten tiny reinforcements than one big one and lose momentum. Texture matters too. Pick soft treats as these are faster to eat and keep the session moving, especially for puppies or easily distracted dogs. I also match the value of the treat to the difficulty of the task. Easy behaviors in a quiet room get low- to medium-value food. If your dog loves his kibble, go for it. New skills, high distractions, or emotionally challenging situations get the good stuff. For anxious or reactive dogs, treats can also change emotional responses, which is huge. You're not just training; you're shaping how the dog feels about the situation. As for favorites, I keep a mix. For everyday work in the home, things like soft commercial training treats or kibble work well. For higher-value situations, I like freeze-dried meat or small bits of cooked chicken. The best treat is always the one your dog cares about in that moment, so flexibility beats brand loyalty every time!
In a training setting, I always talk about timing and portion control when using treats. A treat has to be given right after a dog has done the desired behavior so that it can link the action to the reward. I also suggest giving very small, soft treats during high-frequency training sessions, particularly, because you do not want to overfeed the dog while still keeping them motivated and focused. Treats are indispensable because they provide positive reinforcement, which not only strengthens the bond between the dog and the trainer but also encourages the dog to repeat that including good behaviors. Besides, they make the learning process a fun and rewarding experience, which is especially important for easily distracted or nervous dogs. In my opinion, I prefer using high-value treats like small pieces of cooked chicken or cheese for the more challenging commands and softer, lower-calorie treats for the routine practice, as it stretches out the motivation and health considerations.