By Malice Young, Edited by Rachel Petersen
Rewarding your dog with treats can be a great way to reinforce positive behaviour and show your furry friend that you appreciate them. But with all the different opinions and treats available out there, it can be hard to know how to reward effectively. Follow these four easy tips to give your dog a treat the right way.
Which treats
When choosing a treat for your dog, choose one that is both nutritiously beneficial and tastes good to your dog. Before purchasing your dog a bag of treats, make sure to read the ingredients list as well as the nutritional information so that you can avoid unwanted ingredients or high calorie products. If your dog has any allergies, be sure to avoid those products.
How to use treats
Giving your dog a treat as a reward for good behaviour is a perfect time. If you’ve been practicing a trick or trying to enforce a rule and your dog finally gets it, go ahead and reward with a treat! Treats can be a critical component in your dog’s training and learning of commands. Giving your dog treats is also a great way to express your love towards them if they’ve been cuddly or affectionate with you.
When to give treats
A great time to give your dog a treat is between meals, not during a mealtime. Allow an appropriate time gap between your dog’s consumption of a treat and their daily meal time. It is best to give a treat when your dog is hungry enough for one, but make sure to never replace regular, nutritious meals.
How many treats to give
Managing your dog’s calorie count is very important to keeping your dog healthy. When it comes to treats, your dog shouldn’t receive more than 10% of their daily calorie intake from them. If your dog receives too many treats in a day, it may ruin their appetite for their nutritious meal. Overfeeding your dog, especially with treats, can also cause your dog to have canine obesity.
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