Using Food in Dog Training
Why we do it, what kinds of food to use, food-related FAQs, and more.
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Positive reinforcement works for every being.
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✳︎ Positive reinforcement works for every being. ✳︎
Why do we use food to train dogs?
Will all that food spoil them? Does it hinder our relationship? Will we have to rely on it? These are all common concerns of dog parents who prepare to embark on their dog training journey. I understand the concern, but we’re thinking about food all wrong. Consider this…
Thousands of years ago, long before our modern dogs existed, their ancestors started hanging around humans. They were hanging around for food, and they kept coming back for food.
Food was the reason we connected in the first place.
We have dogs today because we had... food.The domestication of dogs didn’t happen because we established ourselves as their “leader” or they “respected” us; it happened because we fed them.
We’ve always understood that food is a central part of our connection to dogs, and a key motivator for their cooperation. This hasn’t changed; if anything, it’s more true than ever. Modern pet dogs now rely entirely on us for food.
Food is still a primary part of our relationship with dogs.Food ideas for dog training
You will need far more food than you think. I recommend preparing 300 small pieces of food per dog for each lesson. For our first lesson, I recommend preparing 50% low-value, 35% medium, and 15% high. All medium, high and highest value treats should be chopped up into small pieces; otherwise, you’re going to fly through your food stash!
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Regular kibble - Kibble generally works well for routine training inside. Once you’re working outside and/or with distractions and triggers, you’ll need something of a higher value.
Plain Cheerios - The only downside to these is they don’t fly well and we will be tossing food a lot. But in the beginning, these could be perfect.
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Apple slices chopped into little pieces are a great whole food option.
Any typical package of treat you’d buy at a pet store or online is generally going to fall into this category. These are always good to have on hand.
These are almost always sold in pieces that are way too big for training, so be sure to CUT THEM UP. This is worth the time and effort. It’ll save you money and save your dog calories.
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Freeze-dried anything is a high value treat for most dogs. Beef liver, salmon, and chicken are popular.
Costco usually has great deals on freeze dried beef liver, and sometimes they have salmon, too.
Cheese (cheese sticks or a block of cheese cut into small pieces) is also considered high value for most dogs.
Cut all freeze-dried food and cheese into SMALL pieces; otherwise, your dog will be flying through your stash.
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Typically, most dogs consider actual meat to be VERY high value!
Cooked chicken, rotisserie chicken, hot dogs, Vienna sausages, etc.
Hopefully this goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: please remove any parts that are unsafe for your dog to ingest.
CUT IT INTO SMALL CUBES! If you don’t you’re going to have a mess on your hands.
Preserve these rewards for the most difficult of situations.
!!IMPORTANT!!
We are NOT making your dog “earn” their meals!
We do not want to require a dog to participate in training activities with us in order to have their basic needs met. Basic needs should always be met without contingencies. This builds trust and safety.
It is okay to use some of your dog’s daily kibble for training, but be sure to feed the larger portion of their meal first and without making them “earn” it in any way.
It is also okay to feed your dog’s meals as enrichment activities. There’s a big difference between a puzzle bowl and a training requirement!
Food FAQs
Which foods are best?
Ultimately, it takes trial and error to see which foods your dog prefers, digests well, and considers low, medium, high and highest value.
What about calories?
If you’re worried about your dog gaining weight, shave a little kibble off of each meal on days when they get a lot of food during training activities. Choose food with more nutritional value if
Is this too much food?
PLEASE take the time to chop the food into smaller pieces (except kibble and cheerios). Commercial treats are unnecessarily big! The size of your fingernail works just fine, and for small dogs, food used for training should be even smaller.
How long do we use food?
Forever and ever. ;) In all seriousness, once you understand how food reinforces behavior and builds our connection with our beloved dog(s), this question may well disappear. At the very least, I’d expect to use food for the next 6 months, and on and off in the future.
Aren’t dogs just doing it for the food?
Not if you’re using it properly! Food is best understand as a reinforcer, not a reward. That distinction matters. A reward is something you get for good behavior, something you earn. A reinforcer is something we use strategically to strengthen behaviors we want to see more of.
Does food weaken my status as the leader?
No, because dogs don’t actually need a “leader.” This is a myth perpetuated by dominance theory (also known as pack theory), which has long since been disproven. Many trainers don’t know that, which is why this framework persists. Like all emotionally complex sentient beings, dogs need guidance, connection, and a safe, secure connection (not unlike children). Food doesn’t harm that kind of relationship.