Bone Appetit! Tips for More Effective Food Training

For most dogs, food is a major motivating factor. photo: Althea Karwowski

Have you tried using food in training but found it difficult? As a coach for dog guardians, I’ve encountered some common issues, especially with dogs who aren’t particularly food-motivated. Here are some of my top tips for the effective use of food in dog training.  

First, how is your dog’s appetite overall? If your dog isn’t regularly eating meals, it may be wise to seek an assessment by a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist. Is there an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed before starting a training program? Is your dog unable to eat consistently due to stress? For some dogs, a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist may recommend behavioral medication to address stress if it’s affecting a dog’s ability to eat and engage in training.

If your dog does eat meals consistently and eats in some training sessions but not others, you may consider the following possibilities.

A dog who is fearful outdoors may not be able to eat outside

For some dogs, it’s possible to gradually work on building comfort outdoors through desensitization and counterconditioning. This may mean skipping walks in busy places and taking field trips to places where a dog feels safe instead. If your dog is fearful of particular things on walks (people, other dogs, busy streets), maintaining distance can help. A fearful dog will benefit from greater space from things they find scary, but they may struggle if you push exposure and get too close to the scary stuff.  

What type of food are you using?

Some dogs are happy to eat dry treats in a variety of training settings, while others may eat dry treats only in a low-distraction setting like the living room. For distractible dogs, a squeeze tube of plain yogurt can be a game changer on walks, especially when passing other dogs. If you haven’t tried introducing novel foods yet, I encourage you to get creative, while remembering that each dog’s tastes are unique. To effectively use food in training, you have to know what your own dog finds wonderful. For example, if you’re trying to create positive associations for your fearful dog when he sees strangers on walks, you’ll need to use food your dog finds irresistible. Delivering a food item your dog feels neutral-to-bleh about will not help build new, positive feelings.

How are you delivering food?

There are many creative and strategic options for food delivery in training.  If your dog is nervous about your hand reaching toward him, try tossing treats instead. If your dog finds chasing things to be the most fun ever, throw treats for him to chase. If you’re working on training that involves your dog standing in one place, a carefully placed lick mat makes it more likely they’ll hang out in that zone longer. If you want your dog to move in a particular direction, try tossing a treat that way. 

Figuring out which foods to use and how to deliver them can provide a real breakthrough when you’re feeling stuck in your training. It’s so rewarding when you make a winning food choice and see a dog’s body language indicate delight. 

Even with the pickiest eaters, there’s bound to be a treat they can’t resist. Now it’s up to you to find it!