My dog isn't food motivated. What are the best ways to reward him?

Question

My dog has no particular preference to treats - even the dog treats, and this makes it difficult to reward him. Any alternate way i can reward positive behaviour? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 38 lbs

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

For training purposes we sometimes will give foods not normally recommended to our pups, such as SMALL pieces of cheese, tiny pieces of cooked hot dog, or a lick of a spoon with peanut butter or EZ cheese. Some dogs also really enjoy the freeze dried liver treats such as these https://www.chewy.com/stewart-pro-treat-beef-liver-freeze/dp/44918. As long as you are giving very little pieces and your dog doesn't have food allergies or a sensitive stomach these can be good choices for high value rewards. Other dogs respond well to being rewarded with a certain toy. Many dogs, for example, are in love with/obsessed with tennis balls and just getting to catch a tennis ball or hold it in their mouth can be a reward. Another way to increase treat motivation is to give a smaller meal or wait to give a meal until after your training session. Your dog may not be interested in treats if he just ate his whole bowl of food and has a full belly!

My dog isn't food motivated. What are the best ways to reward him?

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