Rewards are crucial in training your dog. Food is the easiest, quickest and most convenient way to reward your dog. But what do you do it your dog isn’t food motivated? There are other ways to reward your dog that may have an even bigger payoff than food. In order to find out what really makes your dog happy, you’ll have to spend time with him in lots of different places to learn what motivates him.
Here are some ideas to get your dog moving:
- Take your dog to a park. Does he like playing with the other dogs? If he does, use this to you advantage. When other dogs are near, get your dog’s attention and do some quick obedience training. As a reward, let him play with the other dogs.
- Does your puppy like water? Let him play in the water or have a nice, long drink for good behavior or if he does as you ask.
- Use toys often. If your dog isn’t too fond of his toys at home, take him to a pet store and see what he goes for. You can hold different toys out to him to see how interested he is. Only buy those that are really exciting and interesting to him.
- While you are on a walk with your dog, if there is something he is really eager to explore, have him do a few position changes and let him sniff it as a reward. If he doesn’t cooperate, promptly turn and take him away from whatever he’s so eager to sniff. Then return to it and try again. When he completes the behavior you ask of him, let him explore the area or object.
- Don’t forget: Verbal praise and human contact are often the biggest reward to dogs.
