Why Food-Based Training Isn't Working for Your Dog – and How to Fix It

Many dog owners find that food rewards don’t work as well as expected in training. If you're struggling with using food to motivate your dog, you're not alone. Let's explore the common reasons why food-based training may not be working, and how you can resolve the issue to achieve better results.

1. The food you’re using isn’t high value enough

The quality of the food reward significantly impacts training success. Research by Riemer et al. (2018) found that dogs responded faster to higher-value rewards, like sausage, compared to lower-quality rewards like kibble. If you’re using dry treats, they may not be as motivating, especially for complex behaviours or in distracting environments.

How to fix it:

• Use high-value treats like cooked meat (e.g. roast chicken), JR paté, cocktail sausages, cheese or even squeezy liver paste.

• Adjust the reward quality depending on the task’s difficulty. For challenging behaviours in distracting environments, use your dog’s favourite treat.

2. Your rewards aren’t varied enough

Bremhorst et al. (2018) found that dogs maintain better motivation when given a variety of rewards. If your dog is consistently rewarded with the same treat, their excitement may decrease over time.

How to fix it:

• Rotate different treats each week, such as using hot dogs one week, cheese the next, and chicken after that.

• You can also mix treats in your pouch for a 'lucky dip' experience.

Keep your treats varied to hold your dog's interest and prevent frustration

3. Your timing may be off

In training, timing is crucial. If your reward is given too late or too early, your dog may not understand which behaviour is being reinforced. Always mark the desired behaviour first, then reward.

How to fix it:

• Use a verbal marker like 'yes!' or a clicker to immediately follow the behaviour before delivering the reward.

• Avoid using treats as 'bribes' – reward the behaviour after it’s performed, not before.

Here my client is maintaining a nice neutral hand position and only moves her hand when I ask her to reward her dog

4. Your delivery needs tweaking

Some dogs may find traditional treat delivery boring. Try mixing it up to keep your dog engaged and excited.

How to fix it:

• Try different delivery methods: throw a treat for your dog to catch, scatter treats for them to sniff out or roll the treat for them to chase.

• Ensure the delivery matches the behaviour being trained. For example, when training recall, you might throw the food for a high-energy reward, or drop treats on the floor for calmer behaviours like loose lead walking.

5. Your dog isn’t in the right frame of mind to take food

Sometimes, external factors like stress or excitement can make your dog less interested in food, even if they're typically food-driven. Stress, anxiety or an overly stimulating environment can reduce their motivation for treats.

How to fix it:

• Start training in quieter, more controlled environments, like your home or garden, where your dog is more likely to focus on food.

• If your dog is distracted by exciting surroundings, make access to the environment dependent on your dog taking food. Ask your dog for a simple behaviour (e.g. sit) and offer them a food reward – wait for them to eat it before letting them explore or start the walk.

If your dog is a fussy eater, regularly has diarrhoea or loose stools or has a history of refusing meals, please see your veterinarian in order to rule out food allergies or gastrointestinal issues.

Alternative rewards: when food isn’t enough

In some situations, food may not be the most effective motivator. For example, if your dog loves tugging or sniffing, you can use toys or games as rewards. If your dog is more interested in sniffing during walks, use that as a reward for good behaviour.

How to fix it:

• Use your dog’s favourite toy or game as a reward for good behaviour.

• Reward them with access to exciting activities, like sniffing during a walk or playing with another dog.

It's possible to reward certain behaviours using other things like toys, but I still prefer to use food if possible for calmer behaviours like walking on a loose lead

Conclusion

Food rewards can be incredibly effective in dog training, but they require the right approach. By using high-value treats, varying your rewards, timing them perfectly and adjusting your delivery, you can significantly improve your dog’s response to training. If your dog still isn’t motivated by food, consider switching to other forms of reward like toys or games, where appropriate.

If you're having trouble getting your dog to respond to food-based training, don’t hesitate to contact me. Together, we can figure out the best strategy to help you achieve your training goals and build a stronger bond with your dog.