| Well, for one thing, the same reason you should treat | | | | welcome you home with a big hug and a sloppy kiss. |
| yourself every now and then, and because it's a great | | | | Go ahead and administer a treat on these occasions |
| aid to positive re-enforcement training with animals. | | | | too. But don't just hand them out all the time for no |
| Many people don't believe in training their animals with | | | | reason, or the dog will just expect them all the time, |
| treats because they are concerned with whether or | | | | and it won't be special anymore. |
| not the dog will always expect a reward for good | | | | During Training |
| behaviour. And if so, the dog might behave badly, | | | | Expert dog trainers recommend training your dogs |
| --chewing, barking, jumping up, because they will | | | | with treats because it's a good, strong reenforcement |
| always expect a treat, or because they didn't get one | | | | to good behaviour. As opposed to negative |
| for behaving well on a different occasion. This | | | | re-enforcement that sometimes borders on abusive |
| approach is the owner's decision, of course, but | | | | treatment of the animal, and only detracts from all the |
| generally speaking, dogs trained with treats do often | | | | sweet qualities from your pet that made you fall in |
| learn to appreciate good behaviour for the sake of | | | | love with him or her to begin with. According to some |
| being good. Whether it's for training or good behaviour, | | | | trainers, it's easier to make a "bait pouch" attached to |
| as a nice little treat for any occasion, or even to assist | | | | your belt or waistband for treats, because having to |
| with giving your dog medicine or their regular | | | | fumble for treats in a pocket might take too long, and |
| prescription, --dog treats are useful and a tasty treat | | | | deprecate the value of the training in the first place. |
| for your pet. | | | | Prompt delivery of a treat will show the dog that he |
| Just Because | | | | did an excellent job. From experience, use a material |
| Giving your dog a special treat now and then just for | | | | that's fairly airtight, because the dog will smell the |
| the sake of treating him or her is a sweet gesture to | | | | treats, and might become distracted from training. |
| encourage good behaviour. You shouldn't make it an | | | | Assisting With Medication |
| every-five-minutes deal, but you should do it now and | | | | Finally, dog treats are an excellent way to make giving |
| then to just to let him know he did good. If you come | | | | your dog his or her medication, or medicine. Many |
| home, and nothing has been chewed up, --sometimes | | | | veterinarians have optimized the usual medications for |
| you have to check first, trust me, that's a good time to | | | | delivering them to the animal more easily, and to |
| give him a treat. Or if you have company, and | | | | prevent them from just letting the nasty taste fall out |
| --wonder of wonders, your pet doesn't go crazy and | | | | of their mouth. If your veterinarian has prescribed the |
| bark at everyone, that's a good time to give him a | | | | medication in pill form, then ask your vet what kind of |
| treat. Another great time is when you can actually see | | | | homemade treats you can give your dog, so that you |
| your dog -wanting- to jump up on you, but not doing it, | | | | can disguise the pills and make it easier for the animal |
| --it's a struggle for him because it's in their nature to | | | | to swallow. |