It is no secret that dogs love food and treats. Treats are a good way to reinforce obedience and positive behaviour they are also a must during training.
Treats are better for your dog than leftover food and are fine to be given at any time though giving them as positive reinforcement is best. Treats should be no more than 10% of your dog’s diet, especially for overweight dogs.
If you plan to treat your dog often, invest in healthier and smaller treats to keep your dog slim and healthy. If, however, your dog is active, you may not be restricted to giving lower-calorie treats. If you give your dog treats from your plate, you can’t complain that he’s a pest at mealtime. And if your dog’s supposed to be losing weight, don’t give any treats at all.
The best treats to give your dog are natural treats such as dried meats, raw meaty bones, carrot, apple (seeds removed) and plain yoghurt. Try to avoid feeding your dog too many treats during the day or they won’t feel like eating their dinner. You can reduce the meal portion on days you feed lots of treats or even ration out your dog’s main meal to use as treats during the day.
Avoid some foods entirely. Some human foods, such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, and onions are toxic to canines. Food that’s heavily spiced or fatty can upset your dog’s digestion, leading to diarrhea, vomiting, or even a life-threatening disease.
Far more importantly for training purposes, giving dogs too many treats causes psychological problems. For instance, if your dog is getting treats at random, then when you ask them to work for a treat (sit, lay, quiet), they have no reason to do so.
