Easy-to-Eat Treats Like Vita Bone® Biscuits and Chewy Sticks Key to Dog Training

OGDEN, Utah, April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Like humans, dogs must be motivated to learn how to behave appropriately. But unlike people, dogs are best influenced through their sharpest sense – smell – as well as through taste.

"For most dogs, treats are their currency," says nationally acclaimed pet expert and certified animal behavior consultant Steve Dale. "Reward dogs instantly with something that smells good to them and takes only a few seconds to chew – like Vita Bone^® treats – and you will train them to repeat proper behavior."

Such positive reinforcement works because it helps dogs to understand what humans want them to do. The problem with punishing dogs for bad behavior – besides the humane concerns – is that at best, it teaches dogs what not to do and offers them no information about what they should do.

Vita Bone Chewy Sticks are easy to break apart for training sessions and Vita Bone Dog Biscuits are softer than other leading biscuits. In addition to being easy to eat, independent studies show that dogs prefer Vita Bone treats two to one over leading national brands. So their size, texture and taste make them ideal dog training tools.

Timing also is key to effective training. Dale says it's critical that dogs get a small, healthy treat as quickly as possible after they perform a desired behavior so that they connect the act with the reward.

"The best treats to use are soft and easily eaten, so you can continue training in the moment," says Dale. "You can lose momentum and learning if too many seconds pass between a dog's good behavior and you rewarding it with a treat."

Positive reinforcement is the best way to get dogs' attention and lure them to do what their owners want them to do. Another technique Dale recommends is "intermittent reinforcement," which uses treats more inconsistently to recognize proper behavior. Not getting a treat every time a dog does something right becomes more reinforcing than always getting a reward – similar, Dale says, to people playing slot machines – and is beneficial in other ways, too.

First, since about half of all dogs are overweight and most of them are under-exercised, too many treats – even nutritious ones – can create a health issue. Just as important, dogs need to obey people even if they don't have treats handy to use as tools of persuasion. There are times when a dog could be injured if it ignores or doesn't understand a human's command – e.g., if it's running into the path of an oncoming car – so people must be able to control a dog whether or not they have treats.

Ideally, though, Dale recommends that people carry easily accessible treats whenever they're with their dogs.

"Using treats throughout a dog's lifetime – even after it's trained – is a good way to maintain positive behavior," says Dale. "Plus, treats build community. It's a fun, enriching way for people to interact with dogs and to interact with other people through their dogs."                                                 

Dog ownership and dog training go hand-in-hand. The advantages to people of a well-behaved dog are obvious, but training dogs about manners and other basic behaviors benefits our canine friends too. Dale says that dogs need and enjoy structure and must behave in ways that allow them to live happily and safely in the human world.

For more dog training tips from Steve Dale, visit www.vitabone.com/learn.

About Steve Dale

Pet Expert Steve Dale is the author of the weekly syndicated newspaper column "My Pet World" (Tribune Content Agency). He's also the host of nationally syndicated radio programs, "Steve Dale's Pet World," "The Pet Minute with Steve Dale," as well as a local pet radio show heard on WGN Chicago. Dale is certified as a behavior consultant by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and he's the co-editor of "Decoding Your Dog," authored by members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

About Vita Bone^®

Vita Bone^® Biscuits (www.vitabone.com) are baked using natural ingredients to enhance flavor and digestibility. Fortified with 23 essential vitamins and minerals, Vita Bone^® Biscuits also include omega-3 and -6 fatty acids as well as glucosamine from natural sources like salmon oil and chicken. These essential elements help promote healthy skin, well-conditioned coats and good joint health in dogs. Vita Bone^® Chewy Sticks are easy to break apart for training sessions or a great snack between meals. Vita Bone^® Biscuits and Chewy treats are part of the American Pet Nutrition family of trusted brands that meet the strictest standards of safety and quality for production and packaging. The company is based in Ogden, Utah, and has been family-owned since 1972.

SOURCE American Pet Nutrition

Related Links

http://www.vitabone.com