I was the 5th "dog specialist" my new client had worked with. Three of the previous specialists were "known for working with her dog's breed" and one had been recommended by her neighbors. Three of the four told my client that she should absolutely never use treats to train her dog or her dog would end up being dependent on food in order to do anything. The other trainer she'd seen told her that she could use treats, but they had to be "derived from organ meat" in order to be valuable for training purposes. It could just be that I was tired by the time I met with this client, but this nonsense really ticked me off. I wasn't aggravated with the client, but with the uneducated and misinformed "advice" she was getting. This is a bright, well-spoken woman. She's had dogs before. When I asked her if she really believed that giving treats to her dog would actually result in the dog blackmailing her for more food, she giggled. C'mon folks. We all like to get paid for our work. What makes anyone think that dogs are any different? Treats are a commodity and dogs are willing to work for tangible rewards just like anybody else.
While it is true that not all treats are created equal, making a bold statement that only organ meats make suitable rewards is ridiculous. The value of a treat is determined by the dog. Some dogs love cheerios. Others love lettuce. Westley loves carrots, while Ozzie and Desi love strawberries. All of these food items are rewarding for the dogs who enjoy them. Giving lettuce to Desi will not be considered a reward and will quite frankly leave him disgruntled that you thought it would be valuable for some reason. The bottom line is this: just because I like something, or I've bought something that I think my dogs will love doesn't guarantee that they will. Just because you purchased expensive, freeze-dried, organ meat for your dog doesn't mean they will like it or eat it. Maybe they prefer goldfish crackers! I'm teaching a puppy class right now and two of the dogs in that class happily work for their kibble. Go figure. Plus, there are dogs who will work for kibble at home, but need something higher value out in public, and that's fine too. Their preferred currency can change based on the circumstances they find themselves in.
So what about dogs who won't take treats out in public? Those dogs, by and large, are anxious. Anxious dogs aren't hungry; they are distracted and overwhelmed by whatever is causing their anxiety. I saw a client yesterday who said her pup has never taken a treat in public because she is so anxious. We worked together for an hour to reduce the dog's anxiety and she was then happily taking treats I'd brought with me. Not fancy, freeze-dried organ meat; simple training treats that smell like bacon. What's the point of telling you this? If your dog "isn't interested in eating," then figure out what's making them so anxious. All animals need to eat in order to sustain themselves. It could even be the case that what you are giving them is making them feel sick. Changing treats, trying limited ingredient treats, etc. is one way to begin figuring out what works to motivate and reinforce your dog without making them feel ill.
And for those three specialists my client saw who told her that treats are "verboten" during training; there's plenty of research which clearly proves otherwise. In one study published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, researchers examined whether dogs' interest level in food affected their ability to be trained. Dogs were divided into groups depending on whether they were fast eaters, slow eaters, or dogs who left food behind in their bowls. For one test, dogs were asked to sit and given food as a reward. For another test, dogs were asked to sit and instead of giving them food, they received praise and pats. All of the dogs, whether slow eaters, fast eaters, or picky eaters, responded better when food was used as a reward compared to receiving praise and petting. So while this study showed that there were clearly individual differences in how dogs responded to receiving food during training, ALL of the dogs were motivated by food. This is just one of many studies that have been conducted on this topic and all of this research is readily available to read online. Why trainers are still telling dog owners that treats spoil the dog, make the dog engage in blackmail, etc. is beyond me. It simply isn't true.
I will agree that you have to keep an eye on the number of treats your dog is receiving. Dogs have daily caloric needs based on their age, level of exercise, and body conformation. While a puppy may burn off those extra calories very quickly, a senior dog may not. Dogs who are running agility may need extra calories compared to dogs who take a leisurely stroll twice a day with their owners. Don't hesitate to use treats as rewards, to redirect your dog, and to make those interactive puzzle feeder toys more enjoyable. Just be aware of the calories your dog receives in those treats and adjust their meal ration (or increase their exercise) accordingly.
There is nothing wrong with sharing food with your dogs. Eating is a pleasurable activity and one which is all the more enjoyable if you have others there with you. So, go ahead and share your banana with your dog. Definitely ask them to sit, or touch, or turn, or bow first, just for fun. We all like to get paid for a job well done. Dogs don't mind working. They just prefer not to work for free.
As always if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
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