Training with Treats: Why Paying Your Dog Works

What rewarding really means for dogs, why food is such a powerful motivator, and how to use it wisely without creating dependency (or a waistline problem).

Those faces say it all! Food rewards make training fun, motivating and confidence-building for dogs.

“Why do I need to have treats on me all the time? He should just know what I want!”

I hear this a lot. But the truth is, your dog isn’t being cheeky, stubborn, or manipulative. They’re just being a dog. And dogs, like the rest of us, don’t work for free.

Why training with treats works so well

Food is what behaviourists call a primary reinforcer – something that is naturally rewarding without needing to be taught. When your dog earns food rewards, dopamine and endorphins fire, creating pleasure and motivation. This is why training with treats is so effective – it builds positive associations, strengthens learning pathways, and fosters trust between you and your dog.

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Dogs evolved as scavengers; food-seeking and food-earning are deeply satisfying behaviours. So, when we use food in training, we’re tapping into something that’s already wired into their brain, not forcing something unnatural.

But isn't food bribery?

No. A bribe happens before behaviour (“I’ll show you this biscuit so you’ll sit”), while a reward happens after behaviour (“You sat, well done, have a biscuit”). Timing matters. The reward marks success and tells your dog exactly what worked. It’s communication, not manipulation.

Be generous ... it pays off!

Early in training, generosity is your secret weapon. Paying well builds motivation, confidence, and trust. Dogs learn faster when reinforcement is frequent and predictable because it creates emotional safety. Being stingy with rewards too soon is like docking your employee’s pay before they’ve mastered the job.

Once your dog really understands the behaviour, then you can start to fade the food – not by stopping cold turkey but by switching to a variable schedule. Sometimes they get a treat, sometimes a game of tug, sometimes the joy of racing off for a sniff. Unpredictability keeps behaviour strong and life interesting.

Managing the calories

You don’t need to turn your dog into a walking sausage roll. Simply use part of their daily food allowance for training. Measure out what they’d normally eat and take some of it with you. You can add small amounts of higher-value food for the bigger wins – think “bonus pay”.

If your dog needs a little waistline management, remember that training doesn’t have to be feast or famine. Small pieces, frequent reinforcement, and balance across the day work beautifully.

Food is the bridge, not the goal

At Wild K9s, I use food as a bridge between confusion and understanding. It’s a tool that helps dogs feel safe enough to learn and motivated enough to try again. Over time, the relationship itself becomes reinforcing – your dog learns that good things happen when they engage with you.

So next time someone says, “You shouldn’t have to feed him for that,” smile politely and remember: food isn’t spoiling your dog. It’s teaching them. And teaching, done kindly and clearly, is always worth paying for.