Understanding Dog Treats 101
Dog Treats are super important and an essential part of a Dog’s Life. High Value Dog Treats it the “King” of treats for the dog. High Value Dog Treats are usually moist or freeze-dried with extra aroma to attract your dog. Think of it as rewarding your dog for it’s A+ behavior and training
This is similar to rewarding yourself to Ferrero Rocher chocolate for acing your school exam as opposed to indulging in normal Nestlé chocolate.
Benefits of Having Different Grade Treats
- Having Different Grade of Treats has impacts on training
- Dogs tend to be more focused and responsive to you
- Dogs tends to ignore distractions when they are more focused
- Dogs are less likely to get bored of the same treat
What Treats Your Dog Likes
Did you know, dogs also have preferences. Each dog’s preference is unique, so I won’t be able to help you here. Instead, I can guide you, when we are mentioning High Value Dog Treats vs Medium Value Dog Treats vs Low Value Dog Treats.
We are not directly talking about the cost value or nutritional value of the dog treat.
Rather, we are speaking of how much your dog values the treat.
That’s how we categories dog treats, High Value Treats would be something your dog loves, Medium Value Treats would be the standard dog treat given for good behaviour while Low Value Treats as something to get your dog into the mood.
What Are “High Value” Treats?
As we mentioned, High Value dog treats are something your dog absolutely loves. However, what exactly makes it a treat?
High value treats are usually moist or freeze-dried, with extra aroma combined with something that your dog does not receive often if at all outside their training sessions.
This can include but not limited to Boiled then lightly roasted chicken, liverwurst or xylitol-free peanut butter.
High Value Dog Treats is your top-tier reward you are giving your dog, do not give it often as it it value to the dog will be devalued.
How Should “High Value” Treats Be Used
- Introduce a brand new behavior
- Distracting Environments
- Rewarding your dog for a high-quality response to a command
- As the top-tier reward during Training Sessions
What Are “Medium Value” Treats?
As we mentioned, Medium Value dog treats are something your dog loves and gets semi-often. However, what exactly makes it a treat?
Medium value treats tends to be semi-moist or dry treats, with some aroma.
This is the dog treat that your dog will get more often than not as a good job reward.
This can include but not limited to Zuke’s Mini Naturals , Off-Leash Treat or Liver Treats.
Medium Value Dog Treats is your above-average-tier reward you are giving your dog when your dog deserve a bit more than a “Great Job”.
How Should “Medium Value” Treats Be Used
- Maintaining an already learnt behaviour
- Mildly Distracting Environments
- Rewarding your dog for good behaviour throughout the day
- As the main reward during enrichment activities
- During Bite-Control Exercises
What Are “Low Value” Treats?
As we mentioned, Low Value dog treats are something your dog likes and receives quite often. However, what exactly makes it a treat?
Low value treats are usually dry and crunchy treats. It tends to be with lower calorie as this is the main treat given to your dog.
This can include but not limited to Biscuits, beef Kong Bites.
Low Value Dog Treats is your go-to reward you are giving your dog.
How Should “Low Value” Treats Be Used
When preforming requested behavior
- Throughout the day for good behaviour
- Low to No distraction Environments
- As Part of regular enrichment activities
Treat Testing
Before you are able to decide what is high, medium or low value dog treat to your dog.
There is one handy method by giving your dog a choice between different treats.
Put each kind of treats in your hands or small cups and have them decide which one they like most.
They will sniff and eventually go for the treat.
You can repeat this as many times as needed to determine the rankings of your treats.
