5 answers on how to use training treats

Find out how to use this food to teach your dog commands in a healthy way

In general, dogs love snacks! Just hearing the sound of the biscuit packet gets many people excited and asking for one. However, when it comes to pleasing, rewarding or training, it is common for owners to have several concerns about how to include these treats in their pet’s diet. Therefore, it is important to know if these foods are truly healthy, understand the appropriate daily amount, and choose options that do not harm your dog’s health.

Below, Mayara Andrade, veterinarian specializing in nutrition for Balance, a Premium Especial brand by BRF Pet, and trainer Fabio Wellisch, from the Conexão Cão company and guardian of the dogs Pirigueti and Emoji, clarify these and other doubts. Check!

1. How to use snacks in your child’s diet pet?

Snack like cookies They can be offered daily as a form of pleasure, training or reward. Mayara Andrade explains that they can be safely included in the dog’s diet. According to the veterinarian, up to 90% of the calories consumed every day by dogs should come from complete and balanced foods, the rest can be supplemented by biscuits.

” The owner is recommended to always follow the instructions and guidelines described on the package, as well as consult the veterinarian accompanying the pet to assist in both strategy definition and calculation,” he adds.

2. How to choose the right cookie?

According to Mayara Andrade, tutors should always look for a food which meets the nutritional and energy needs of puppies. “It is important that owners read food labels and ingredient lists carefully, favoring high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals and fibre”, states.

Trainer Fabio Wellisch also adds the importance of opting for highly palatable snacks. “Guardians need to get the dog’s attention with something he really likes. And training is nothing more than exchanging a behavior for a reward, and if that reward is delicious, everything becomes easier,” he says.

However, explain that it is important not to overdo the quantity of snacks. “Dogs do not have the ability to understand that a piece cut into five parts is only a fraction of the initial treat, for them it will be five rewards. So try to give small pieces, so the dog will eat faster and will be more ready for the next check-up,” he says.

3. How can biscuits be used during training?

According to the trainer, snacks can be used to induce dog to implement the desired behaviors. “Initially, avoid giving commands for behaviors that the dog has not yet learned. For example, it is common for people to complain that the dog is stubborn when they ask him to sit and he does not obey. They get used to a specific sound and associate it to a behavior”, we read.

Snacks can be used at this stage. “So, first, induce the dog through body language to follow a certain command, silently, using only the treat as a stimulus. Then, when you observe that he responds to the signals and understands, introduce the verbal command. Repeat a command , like ‘sit’, before the dog has understood, trivializes the word and makes it meaningless”, explains Fabio Wellisch.

4. How to start training your dog?

Fabio Wellisch warns that there are some general tips to follow at the beginning of training of dogs. “Don’t shout, don’t speak reproachfully and be patient. Speak in a low, assertive and calm tone. The training should be light, the dog will learn more easily if he has fun during the process,” he says.

According to the professional, as soon as the dog receives the right command, he begins to reward it alternately. “Once yes, once no, twice no, once yes, gradually reducing the use of the treat, but continuing to use it when training new commands until he is very familiar with it,” he instructs.

According to the trainer, another important tip in this process is to establish times to feed the dog. “It is essential that your dog eats regularly. Give him the food available for 10-15 minutes and, if he doesn’t show interest, remove it and keep it in a hermetically sealed container to offer it to him at a later time. […] Leaving food available all the time can make your dog lose his appetite and not even show interest in snacks during training,” he adds.

5. How to create habits and educational stimuli during meals?

The concept of healthiness is linked not only to the composition of the ingredients contained in the organism pets have fun, but also your habits. As family members, dogs increasingly live indoors, especially in apartments, due to the verticalization of urban centers.

According to Mayara Andrade, a balanced diet, combined with training, healthy snacks, walks and regular visits to the vet are the basis for increasing your dog’s overall health and longevity. pet.

“Snacks can be important in the play process food of dogs, for example, because they stimulate the foraging process, in which animals smell prey, which is the nature of dogs. It is possible to play games, for example encouraging a “treasure hunt” with the dog. This, in nature, is as if he were hunting; For them it’s instinctive and fun,” he explains.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.