By Lisa Mullinax

Food is universally motivating for all animals - we can't survive without it - and most dogs will happily work for us in exchange for a tasty treat. Food is readily available and portable, and makes it possible to train in a variety of situations and evironments.

However, even though our dogs are reliant on us to provide them with food every day, dog owners (and countless dog trainers) still have trouble grasping the idea of getting the food out of the dog bowl and into the dog's training routine. Why? The most common myths are debunked, below.

I DON'T WANT TO BRIBE MY DOG

I don't want you to bribe your dog, either. There is a difference between bribing and rewarding.

Bribery is the act of presenting the food to the dog in order to get the dog to perform a desired behavior.

Rewarding is the act of presenting something a dog finds valuable (food, toy, praise, etc.) after the dog has performed the behavior.

Below are some examples of the difference between bribes and rewards in dog training.

Some people confuse Lure and Reward training with bribery. If done correctly, the food lure disappeares in the very first training session, so that the dog starts responding to the newly-learned hand signal and is then rewarded after it performs the correct behavior. If not done correctly, then lure and reward can quickly turn into bribery.

In the case of bribed dogs, owners generally don't reward the dog for good behavior except for when they have a treat in their hand. The dog learns that it is only rewarding to respond to their owner when they can clearly see the owner is holding food.

The rewarded dog, on the other hand, learns that good things are delivered after he performs a behavior, and so is likely to perform that behavior without the owner having to present food first, making it very easy to integrate other types of non-food rewards into the dog's training program.

I'LL HAVE TO KEEP FOOD ON ME ALL THE TIME

The same can be said of choke chains, prong collars and shock collars.  If the training isn't done correctly from the beginning, the dog's level of obedience will be dependant on whatever tools were used. It is not food, itself, that causes dependence, but the knowledge and skill of the trainer.

Since a reward follows the dog performing the desired command, the dog doesn't have to see the reward before complying. This means other rewards can be introduced to the training process once the dog has learned the behavior is rewarding.

REAL DOG TRAINERS DON'T USE FOOD, THEY TEACH THE DOGS TO WORK OUT OF RESPECT

As a matter of fact, more and more police and military dogs - about the most "real" dog training you can get - are trained with positive reinforcement methods, including the use of food and other rewards, such as play. If positive reinforcement can train the dog that helped capture Osama bin Laden, it's safe to say it can be used to train your pet dog.

MY DOG ISN'T FOOD MOTIVATED

Your dog must eat to survive and is, therefore, naturally motivated by food. Many dogs will happily gobble down a bowl of food and still beg for more.

When trainers are presented with a dog that refuses even the best of food treats, it is usually caused by one of the following factors.

STRESS/ANXIETY

The most common reason a dog might not be food-motivated is stress. When a dog reaches a certain level of stress, anxiety or aggression, they stop accepting food.

This is the brain's way of making sure that all available energy is being used for essential functions in times of crisis. Digestion is not an essential function when being chased by a bear, so the brain shuts that part down.

If a dog is normally motivated by treats at home but refuses them outside of the house, then he may be too stressed for training in that environment. 

Stress isn't always related to fear. Another form of stress is overarousal. This is seen in dogs that get so excited to see other dogs or people, they aren't interested in anything else in the envrionment, including food. These dogs often need training for self-control and attention around distractions.

VALUE

Yes, I know dogs eat poop and other gross stuff, but they really do place a value on different types of food. If you are offering your dog another piece of the same dry dog food that's been sitting in their bowl all day (see below), that probably isn't going to be more exciting than the five dogs sitting across from them in class. Play with that dog or get a piece of something I can have anytime I want? Um, I think I'll choose the dog!

The type of treat does matter. If your dog turns their nose up at a dry, crunchy biscuit, try a soft, smelly jerky treat or even a small bit of turkey hot dog. For dogs that are extra particular, I often find a jar of chicken baby food wins over the pickiest of pooches.

SATIATION

When a dog has access to a full bowl of food 24/7, food isn't always that interesting. The food is always available and so the dog decides when they want to eat. For these dogs, limiting each feeding session to no more than 20 minutes not only encourages your dog to clean their bowl (which will help you spot health problems later on), but also puts you in ultimate charge of that resource.

Some dogs receive a steady stream of treats throughout the day for various reasons not related to training. This is the equivalent of your boss paying you for sitting on your couch and watching television all day. If he then called to ask you to work a double shift on Thanksgiving for the same amount of pay, would you be eager to help out?

ILLNESS

A common sign of illness is a dog that suddenly refuses food at home. Any dog that exhibits an abrupt change in appetite should visit their vet to rule out medical issues.

LIFE REWARDS: Food, Access & Attention

Finding alternate motivators for your dog is one of the keys to getting your dog to work for rewards other than food. Whatever your dog likes, it probably falls under the categories of Food, Access or Attention.

Food seems obvious, but we often overlook things like edible medications. My dog thinks heartworm pills are a special once-a-month treat, so I don't just hand them to him. We practice his latest trick in exchange for bits of his heartworm treatment.

Access is anywhere your dog wants to go. Through a doorway, into the dog park, toward a favorite person or bush on the corner. Many owners unknowingly reward bad leash manners by giving the dog access to whatever he pulls toward. Positive reinforcement can work against you if you're not careful!

Attention includes praising, petting or playing with your dog. But it can backfire on dog owners who aren't careful in when they give their dogs attention. If you look at your dog when he barks at you, you're rewarding the barking with attention. If you throw the ball just because your dog drops it in your lap, you're giving away play for free.

The more you give away, the fewer options you have for rewarding your dog for good behavior.

PETTING AS A REWARD

Rewards are defined by the individual dog, not the human. While some dogs can't get enough hands-on affection, some dogs would much rather have a toss of the ball. To a dog that doesn't enjoy being pet, the intended reward actually has the opposite effect. Does the dog in the photo here look like he would be eager to repeat the behavior that got him this in exchange?

Before using a pat on the head as a reward for your dog, take this quick test:

Call your dog to you. When he reaches you, praise and pet him as if he did the most brilliant thing you've ever seen. Stop after a few seconds, remove your hands and wait to see what your dog does. Does he move closer for more attention? Does he walk away and shake his body as if shaking off water? Dogs that enjoy petting don't make it a secret. They lean into you, nudge your hand and use other ways to communicate they want more. If your dog is only tolerating your attention or actively avoiding it, they don't find this attempt at affection very pleasurable...let alone rewarding!

Some dogs love fetch, some love to tug, others just want to be pet and praised. Knowing what your dog prefers will make training more fun and creates a stronger bond between you and your dog!

CONCLUSION