Should I use treats to train my dog?

Should I use treats to train my dog? Yes, treats can be an effective way to reward your dog during training. They can help motivate your dog, reinforce the behaviour you want and make new exercises easier to understand. However, treats are a training tool, not a requirement, and they should be used correctly so your dog learns the behaviour rather than simply following the food.

Why are treats useful for dog training?

Treats are useful because they provide a clear and immediate reward for the behaviour you want your dog to repeat.

For example, if you ask your dog to sit and reward the moment your dog sits, the dog can begin to understand that sitting produces a worthwhile outcome.

Treats are particularly useful when teaching new behaviours because they can help keep the dog engaged while the behaviour is being established.

How should I use treats when training my dog?

Use treats to reinforce a specific behaviour rather than giving them randomly.

A simple training sequence is:

Choose the behaviour you want.
Give the cue or create the opportunity for the behaviour.
Wait for the correct response.
Mark or acknowledge the response.
Give the treat immediately.
Repeat.
Gradually increase the difficulty.

The timing of the treat matters because your dog needs to understand what behaviour earned it.

Should I show my dog the treat first?

Not necessarily.

Showing a treat before every command can cause your dog to focus on the food rather than the behaviour you are teaching.

A treat can be used as a lure when introducing a new behaviour, but the lure should gradually be reduced as your dog learns.

The aim is for your dog to respond to the cue and then receive the reward, rather than needing to see the reward first.

Can I train my dog without treats?

Yes. Treats are not essential for every dog or every training situation.

Other rewards can include:

Toys
Play
Tug
Retrieve games
Praise
Attention
Access to something the dog wants

The best reward depends on what motivates your individual dog and what you are trying to teach.

What treats are best for dog training?

The best training treats are safe, suitable, small and easy to eat quickly.

Small pieces are useful because they allow you to provide multiple rewards without interrupting the training session.

Soft treats can also be practical because dogs can usually eat them quickly and return their attention to the exercise.

The treat should be valuable enough to motivate your dog but not so large that eating becomes the main activity.

Should I use high-value treats?

High-value treats can be useful when the environment becomes more difficult.

For example, your dog may work happily for ordinary food in the house but need a more valuable reward when practising around significant distractions.

However, high-value treats should not be used to force a dog to work through a situation that is too difficult. If your dog is overwhelmed, reduce the difficulty or increase distance from the distraction.

Will treats make my dog dependent on food?

They do not have to.

Treats can be used frequently when establishing a new behaviour and then gradually varied as the behaviour becomes more reliable.

You can also introduce other rewards such as toys, play, praise and attention.

The goal is to build reliable behaviour, not to make your dog dependent on seeing a treat before responding.

How do I stop using treats all the time?

Do not remove treats suddenly just because your dog has learned the behaviour.

Instead, gradually change how you use them.

Once the behaviour is reliable:

Keep treats available when useful.
Stop using food as a constant lure.
Reward some successful responses with other rewards.
Vary when and how you reward.
Continue reinforcing behaviour that needs to remain reliable.

The aim is not necessarily to stop using treats completely. It is to make sure your dog can perform the behaviour without needing to see food first.

How important is timing?

Timing is extremely important when using treats.

The treat should follow the desired behaviour as closely as possible.

For example, if you are teaching your dog to wait, rewarding after the dog has already stood up may accidentally reinforce getting up rather than waiting.

A marker word or clicker can help identify the exact moment you want to reinforce before the treat is delivered.

Can treats be used to train puppies?

Yes. Treats can be particularly useful when teaching puppies basic behaviours.

Start with simple exercises and reward successful responses. Keep sessions short and appropriate for the puppy’s age and ability.

As the puppy learns, gradually introduce different environments and distractions while continuing to reinforce good responses.

Can treats be used for recall?

Yes. Treats can be a highly effective recall reward when your dog values them.

Begin recall training in a manageable environment and reward your dog when it returns successfully.

Gradually increase distance and distractions as reliability improves.

For outdoor recall training, a long line can provide additional control while your dog learns. It should be used as a safety and management tool, not as a replacement for teaching the recall.

Can treats help with loose-lead walking?

Yes. Treats can reinforce appropriate walking behaviour, attention towards the handler and returning focus after a manageable distraction.

Start in an environment where your dog can concentrate and reward the behaviour you want frequently enough to establish it.

As your dog’s loose-lead walking improves, gradually vary the rewards and increase the difficulty.

Can I use treats around other dogs and distractions?

Yes, provided your dog is still calm enough to learn.

If your dog can notice another dog while remaining able to take food and respond to you, treats can help reinforce appropriate behaviour.

If your dog refuses food, becomes highly excited or reacts strongly, the situation may be too difficult. Increase distance and reduce the level of distraction rather than repeatedly offering treats.

What if my dog does not take treats?

If your dog normally enjoys treats but refuses them during training, look at the situation.

Your dog may be:

Too distracted
Too excited
Worried or stressed
Tired
Uncomfortable
Not hungry
Finding the exercise too difficult

Try a quieter environment, reduce the difficulty or use a reward your dog values more.

If your dog suddenly loses interest in food generally, rather than only during training, consider seeking veterinary advice if appropriate.

How many treats should I give my dog?

Training treats should form part of your dog’s overall daily food intake.

Use small pieces so you can reward frequently without giving unnecessarily large amounts.

If you are using many treats during regular training sessions, adjust your dog’s normal food accordingly where appropriate. If you are unsure about the right amount for your dog, speak to your vet.

What mistakes should I avoid?

Common mistakes include:

Showing the treat before every command
Using the treat as a permanent lure
Rewarding too late
Rewarding the wrong behaviour
Using pieces that are too large
Making training too difficult
Increasing distractions too quickly
Continuing when the dog is too overwhelmed to learn

Treats should make training clearer, not create another distraction.

What if my dog only watches the treat?

If your dog follows your hand, stares at the food or ignores the actual exercise, reduce your use of the treat as a lure.

Keep the reward out of sight where practical and deliver it after the desired behaviour occurs.

Your dog should gradually learn that the cue and behaviour are important, with the treat following as a consequence.

Do I need treats for every training session?

No. Treats are useful, but they do not need to be the only reward.

Depending on the dog and the exercise, toys, play, praise, attention and access to appropriate activities can also reinforce behaviour.

Using different rewards can help keep training flexible and prevent the dog from becoming focused solely on food.

Conclusion

Treats can be an excellent way to train a dog when they are used to reinforce the correct behaviour at the right time. They can help establish new behaviours, improve motivation and support training in increasingly difficult situations.

Use small, suitable treats, accurate timing and gradual progression. Avoid making the food a permanent lure or showing it before every command.

The aim is to teach your dog the behaviour clearly, then build reliability so the dog can respond even when a treat is not immediately visible.

GPK9 — The Five Golden Rules

The GPK9 Five Golden Rules provide the foundation of the GPK9 Professional Training System. They give new dog owners, new dog handlers, experienced handlers and professional dog trainers a clear structure for developing the dog and the handler together.

The GPK9 Five Golden Rules cover five essential areas of development: Home & Social, Obedience, Prey Drive, Toilet and Social Walking. Each area has its own purpose, but they are designed to work together as one complete training system.

The GPK9 approach is based on CATEGORY → STATUS → DRIVE → CONTROL and the handler’s ability to OBSERVE → INTERPRET → DECIDE → COMMUNICATE → OBSERVE RESPONSE → REASSESS. This gives the handler a consistent process for understanding what the dog is doing, why the behaviour is occurring, what level of control is appropriate and how to communicate effectively.

The purpose of the GPK9 Five Golden Rules is not simply to teach a collection of individual exercises. They are designed to develop the dog’s behaviour, motivation, communication, control and reliability while teaching the handler how to make better decisions.

Golden Rule One — Home & Social

Golden Rule One — Home & Social establishes the foundation for everyday life with the dog. It focuses on communication, boundaries, calm behaviour, household routines and appropriate behaviour around people, animals and normal activity.

The purpose of Golden Rule One — Home & Social is to help the handler understand the dog’s behaviour and recognise changes in arousal before they become larger problems. The handler learns to observe, assess and communicate rather than simply reacting after unwanted behaviour has already occurred.

Golden Rule One — Home & Social provides the foundation from which the handler can develop a calmer, more predictable and better-communicating dog.

Golden Rule Two — Obedience

Golden Rule Two — Obedience develops the dog’s ability to understand and respond to the handler’s communication.

The focus of Golden Rule Two — Obedience is not simply teaching commands. It is about developing understanding, reliability, timing, reward, release and control so the dog learns what the handler is communicating.

Through Golden Rule Two — Obedience, the handler learns to progress training appropriately, gradually increasing the dog’s freedom and responsibility as understanding and reliability improve.

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive focuses on understanding and developing the dog’s natural motivation to chase, pursue, engage and work with an appropriate toy or prey-based reward.

The purpose of Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive is not simply to increase drive. The handler must learn how to recognise the dog’s level of motivation, select an appropriate reward and use timing, communication and control to channel that motivation productively.

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive teaches the handler that motivation can become a powerful training tool when it is developed and controlled correctly.

Golden Rule Four — Toilet

Golden Rule Four — Toilet establishes reliable toilet habits through consistency, observation, timing, supervision and appropriate reinforcement.

The handler learns through Golden Rule Four — Toilet to recognise when the dog is likely to need the toilet, provide the correct opportunity and reinforce the desired behaviour.

The objective of Golden Rule Four — Toilet is to establish a predictable routine that helps the dog understand where and when toileting is appropriate while reducing opportunities for mistakes.

Golden Rule Five — Social Walking

Golden Rule Five — Social Walking develops the dog’s ability to walk calmly and appropriately in the real world while remaining connected to the handler.

The focus of Golden Rule Five — Social Walking is the relationship between the handler, the dog, the environment, distractions, distance and available control.

Through Golden Rule Five — Social Walking, the handler learns to observe body language, identify potential triggers, assess distance and recognise changes in drive or arousal before behaviour escalates.

The objective of Golden Rule Five — Social Walking is not simply to make the dog walk beside the handler. It is to develop a dog that can experience the outside world while remaining connected to the handler and capable of responding to clear communication.

How the Five Golden Rules Work Together

The GPK9 Five Golden Rules are designed to work together rather than being treated as five completely separate subjects.

Golden Rule One — Home & Social establishes the foundations for everyday behaviour and communication.

Golden Rule Two — Obedience develops understanding, responsiveness and control.

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive develops motivation and teaches the handler how to channel natural drive appropriately.

Golden Rule Four — Toilet establishes essential household routine and reliability.

Golden Rule Five — Social Walking takes the communication and control developed through the other areas into the outside environment.

Together, the GPK9 Five Golden Rules help the handler develop a complete understanding of the dog rather than treating individual behaviours as isolated problems.

The overall objective of the GPK9 Five Golden Rules is to train the human, train the dog and build the partnership through clear observation, communication, appropriate control and progressive development.