Q. What’s the best way to use treats when training?

A. Dogs respond very well to positive stimulus. Your dog wants to please you, and he wants to be rewarded! If he knows doing a certain action, or behaving a certain way will get him a treat, he will want to repeat this behavior or action again and again.

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Keep in mind, though, that type, frequency and timing of treat delivery will all decide whether you are boring your dog to distraction, encouraging negative behavior or creating a good canine citizen.

To effectively use treats to your advantage, the first thing you have to do is find out what really gets your dog’s tail wagging. If you are working on a new trick or behavior, you will need something that can really hold your dog’s attention and motivate him to work with you. An everyday piece of kibble won’t cut it at this stage.

I like to start with a small crumble of bacon, a shred of unseasoned grilled chicken or a piece of chicken jerky to get a dog’s attention and hold it. Try a few different types of treats and find out what your pet responds to best.

The size of a treat should really be smaller than a pea. Giving your dog fistfuls of treats at a time is unhealthy and, believe it or not, will eventually bore him.

During training sessions, make sure your commands are simple and consistent. Be sure to reward your dog with a treat immediately after he completes a new task. We’re talking within a second! If you wait too long, your dog may not associate the treat with what he accomplished and then the moment is gone. Keep each treat in hand — a treat holder that clips onto your belt can be very convenient, as fumbling around with a baggie or a pocket can often take too long.

Remember: never let a treat become a bribe! If you ask your dog to sit down and he ignores you, taking a treat out and asking him again and again will only reinforce his distraction. Make sure he sits BEFORE the treat is brought into play! And then only give it to him after he sits down.

Finally, don’t forget that all work and no play is, well, no fun! Keep training sessions fairly short, especially with young dogs, and always be willing to put in your fair share of effort.

About the Expert

Five years ago, Donna Blake took the leap and left her high-tech job in wireless telecommunications to open a dog daycare, boarding and training facility: Top Dog Retreat in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Donna’s background and experience in troubleshooting, combined with a long history in fostering, allowed her to develop an innovative and high-touch approach to caring for dogs of all backgrounds. She also is a co-founder of the brand new Ruff Start Dog Rescue of Illinois.

In addition to welcoming hundreds of dogs a week for daycare and boarding, Donna offers group, private and in-home training lessons on everything from basic good manners to complicated behavioral issues.

In the past five years, she has helped thousands of dogs become well adjusted good citizens and taught their families how to be the best pet parents they can be.

You can contact Donna at info@westsuburbandog.com to learn more about dog training and socialization through daycare and boarding at Top Dog Retreat. More information may also be found at www.topdogretreat.com .