Avoid These 8 Common Mistakes When Training Your Puppy with Dog Treats

Doggy training and treats—we dare you to name a more iconic duo when it comes to raising your puppy. While it’s true that some exceptional puppies could be trained without the need for treats, using treats wisely will accelerate your puppy’s learning pace, regardless of their inherent smarts or willingness to please. In a real sense, treats provide an anchor for learning, indicating to your puppy that good things happen when they obey and trust you.

Looking at the more technical side of training, treats are meant to be a form of positive reinforcement. They are not meant to replace a healthy diet or to pamper your puppy just for the sake of it. Unfortunately, the improper use of treats over the long term can lead to confusion, bad habits, and even tragic health issues. You’ll definitely want to avoid these if it’s your goal to raise your puppy into a healthy and well-adjusted dog. 

Below, PrideBites has laid out a few common mistakes pet owners make when training puppies with treats. If you’ve been making these mistakes, don’t worry. We’ve also included suggestions on how to correct them. See if you’ve been “treating” your puppy the way you should, and prep training essentials like their custom dog treat bags:

1) Overfeeding Treats

We get it; it’s hard to resist those (literal) puppy-dog eyes. Unfortunately, treats are often high in calories, usually because of the extra fat content included to make them more appealing. As you might have guessed, giving too many treats can lead to weight gain and nutritional imbalances in your puppy.

To prevent this issue, use small, low-calorie treats and be mindful of the portion sizes compared to your puppy’s weight, age, and total daily calories. If your pup is a picky eater, you may also have to go through a few brands before you can find something they like. Also consider using regular kibble as training treats to keep your pup’s calorie intake in check.

2) Inconsistency

Inconsistently rewarding your puppy for the same behavior can confuse them, thus slowing down the training process. In many cases, inconsistency may result in an undesired outcome. When this happens, you’ll have to teach the trick properly, which can be much harder than simply learning from zero.

The solution is clear: be consistent with the timing and criteria for giving treats. Reward your puppy immediately after they perform the desired action to create an unambiguous association. Always praise them as you offer the reward to ensure they are not fully dependent on treats as a condition for obedience later on.

3) Skipping the Praise

Praise is not optional. As mentioned in the second point, relying solely on treats without incorporating verbal praise and affection can make the training process less effective. Treats should always be paired with enthusiastic verbal praise and physical affection to reinforce positive behavior, especially in the early stages of your puppy’s life.

4) Using Treats as Bribes

Showing your puppy the treat before they perform the required action can turn treats into bribes rather than rewards. This isn’t always the worst mistake, but some puppies may eventually learn to wait and see before they do the action. 

To avoid this sly behavior, keep the treats hidden. Don’t offer them until after your puppy has successfully completed the command.

5) Neglecting to Phase Out Treats

Relying on treats indefinitely can make your puppy dependent on them for performing behaviors. Gradually phase out treats by replacing them with verbal praise or petting when it becomes clear that your puppy understands your commands.

6) Using Unhealthy Treats

The pet food market is not regulated to the same extent as the human food industry. High-fat or sugary treats abound, and they can contribute to poor health and dental issues even after just a relatively short period of use.

Be a smart shopper and prioritize healthy, natural treats with minimal ingredients. Consider making the treats yourself or looking for a local pet food service that offers specially formulated, freshly-made training treats.

7) Training in Distracting Environments

Trying to train your puppy in loud or busy environments will make it difficult for them to focus on the task at hand, particularly if they have a skittish temperament. No matter how smart you think your puppy is, choose quiet environments to start your training. As your pup becomes more proficient, feel free to test their training in a wider variety of situations.

8) Waiting Too Long After the Action

Lastly, giving treats too long after the command has been issued will weaken the association between the behavior and the reward. To avoid this, immediately reward your puppy right after they perform the command to reinforce the connection in their mind. Make sure your treats are held in a PrideBites doggy treat bag and keep it on you so that you can instantly dispense treats as the need arises.

Treat Your Dog Right with PrideBites Dog Treat Bags and Other Training Essentials

Training your puppy is more than just a matter of teaching them cute tricks. Well-trained puppies invariably grow up to be obedient, well-adjusted dogs. This obedience may one day even save their life, as dogs that have been trained from puppyhood will know to trust your judgment when they’re in a precarious situation—whether or not you have a treat in hand.