Blog Details

Often, dogs love treats. They would do almost anything, including sneak a bite of food off the dinner table when mom and dad aren’t looking. This weakness dogs have for food, we use to our advantage to train them. But what do you do when your dog isn’t motivated by food? You wave a treat in front of his nose, telling him to sit and he stares at you for a moment and walks away. Well there are other ways to get your good boy motivated to participate!

Consider the Treat you’re Offering

Some dogs have more preferences than others. It may just be about finding what your dog loves. Instead of store bought treats try more whole foods. There are different treat options such as:

• Grilled Chicken
• Peanut Butter
• Carrots
• Cheese
• Banana
• Fish
• Sweet Potato

Be sure to do your research and be sure your dog can consume the food you’re offering as things like avocado, grapes, chocolate and certain nuts aren’t safe for dogs to eat.

Does your Dog Love to Play?

Play can be used as a reward, just as treats can. If your dog has a favorite toy, you can bargain with it by holding the toy above them as you request your action. When your dog participates, reward them with a short play session.

Positive Reinforcement

Dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement. The tone of your voice and your praise is what they are after. When your dog does something you like, be sure to praise them with a higher tone and pet or scratch them in their favorite spot.

Pick the Best Time to Train Your Pup

Perhaps your dog isn’t interested in the treat because it just had breakfast or maybe he is tired at the end of the day. If your dog is a slow eater and eats food slowly throughout the day, consider lowering the kibble consumption the day you will train so they will be interested in the treats later. Keep the treat size small and easily consumed so you can reward multiple times and keep the training sessions short.

Distractions

Be sure it isn’t due to your dog being distracted. If you’re in a new area and your dog is sniffing around and exploring, it will have a hard time concentrating on you. Same goes if you are newly introducing your dog to new people or there are lots of people around. Your dog may get distracted with other humans nearby and want to greet them or watch them in an effort to protect you. Train them in a familiar place, most likely at home and keep minimal to no people around so your dog can focus on you and the task at hand.

Dog Training

If you are still struggling to train your dog with the above tips, consider enrolling them into at home training with a professional. At Come Sit Stay, ​​we do all of our training within the comfort of your home. By doing the training at your home we train where training is most needed. Every part of our training is done with you, so you know exactly what we are doing. Unlike lengthy “board and trains” or “doggy boot camps” we show you our techniques every step of the way. We start inside and slowly move our way outside. Whether you have a new puppy, an older dog, a rescue, or even a troubled dog showing aggression, we can help. Contact us today to schedule your FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION and start your journey to be free from the leash! Follow Us On Facebook!  Related: Top 5 Tips For Training Your Dog