Not all of our furry friends are food motivated or perhaps the training you have in mind relies on some other type of non-food reward.
In either case, dog toys are your best friend!
Not only do they allow you more control over the positive reward, they allow you to take a break with your dog during intense training. Don’t forget, you aren’t the only one that gets frustrated when training doesn’t go as planned.
Your dog wants to do a good job working with you, but repeatedly being told a command only for it to not work out will wear on your companion’s mental health as well. By using dog toys as part of the reward system, you allow your dog to associate good things with you.
They do good, and you reward them by playing with a favourite toy. Maybe you throw their ball or play a little bit of tug-o-war.
In both of these cases, you build a positive relationship by associating good behaviour and reward with yourself and not just treats. You become part of the reward and strengthen the bond you and your dog share.
Not only is this good for the bond between the two of you, but it can help make future training sessions more successful.
By keeping your dog motivated, you help to keep their attention and interest in training sessions.