When training your pet dog, have a variety of training food at your disposal. Prepping dog training food ahead of time is a sure fire way to be expedient at reinforcement when you need it. Having to prep food at the spur of the moment can be impossible.
For example, when you are housetraining your dog or puppy, have a good training food at the ready so it is in your bait pouch everytime you take your pooch outside. If you have a dog who’s got to go now, that means now is not the time to fumble around for training food. Now is the time to grab that food you already prepped and go! Mistakes happen quickly, so the better prepared you are, the better your dog will respond to your preparation when it’s imperative
For pet dog training, you can categorize training food into three types – A, B, C.
The A-group is the most appealing food to the dog or pup. Use it for high distractions or tougher behaviors. For example, most dogs would do anything for steak or other kinds of meat. Most dogs love cheese, too. Dog foods made out of tripe are also top-knotch motivators. And if you’re making dog training food, those foods with real meat, sardines, tuna, and other such delicacies may very well fit into this group, too.
The B-group food is used when you’re dog is less distracted and the behavior he’s learning is less challenging. This group may include training food made from canned dog food, or pre-made commercial dog training food such as Happy Howie’s brand dog food roll, or another dog food roll. It also may include a special food your dog likes. Luigi, my Dobermann, loved the organic animal crackers from Costco. He would regularly tell me so, and would do any tricks in his repertoire for them, including this one he made up himself.
The B-group can also include foods the dog likes that are not usually found in her food bowl. Some dogs like fruit like applies or bananas. Pippin, another of my Dobermann, once swiped one of two papayas I’d just picked from my tree. She did this right in front of the eyes in back of my head! She loved that fruit. So did I. In this video you’ll see that short episode with little Pippin and the papaya. And funny enough, my dogs loved grabbing the blooming hibiscus flowers right off the branches for a quick snack. Of course, I wouldn’t use the flowers for training food, but you see, there is variety in every dog’s food preferences.
The C-group training food is for simple things like tossing into a crate, so your dog will find it later and enter the crate to eat. Or tossing into the grass for nose searches. Or to move your dog during training. Toss a piece of kibble away from the door so your dog can come back to the door to ring the doorbell. Use the C-group for very easy behaviors. This group includes a dog’s daily kibble, some pre-made boxed dog cookies, a carrot, or other food the dog will eat because he’s hungry. The C-group is not too exciting. Though some dogs may find carrots or their special brand of kibble exciting, so to each his own.
Watch out, for what’s in those play dough like dog treats. Please read the labels. There are dog foods on the market that aren’t very food-like.
Think about your dog and what tasty food will fit under each category. Prep some in baggies. Take a little time to make a list of your dog’s food categories, then fill your dog’s training food pantry with the good stuff that will motivate him/her. A good training plan, reinforcing food, and your dog and you can do great training.
To send your dog to the Love Wags A Tail humane boot camp board-and-train dog training program, for motivational learning with our cast of characters, contact us with your dog training, behavior modification wish list for more information.
Helen Verte Schwarzmann
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Certified in Training and Counseling
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed
Certified Trick Dog Instructor
AKC STAR Puppy, CGC, and Trick Dog Trainer and Evaluator
Your Board-and-Train Dog Trainer for south Florida, Broward, Fort Lauderdale, Lee county
