Food Rewards: What Type Do I Choose?

You will be using plenty of food rewards when training and socializing your GDB puppy. Did you know that not all foods are made equal? Of course! Do you have a favorite food? What about a least favorite one? Puppies can have individual preferences too, but most puppies follow the general guidelines below. Check out the list below to help you decide what kind of food generally work well for different training activities!

Try to keep non-kibble foods to less than 10% of the puppy’s daily food to maintain a balanced diet. Adjust their meals based on how much food you use during training!

Here's a Tip!
Have medium/high value rewards prepped and ready in bite-sized pieces so you’re well prepared when life throws distractions your way and you need higher value food rewards!

Different Types of Food Rewards

Closeup of a dog's tongue licking the screen.

Low Value

Great for everyday training, rewarding calm/settled behavior, and focusing around easy distractions.
Example: Your pup’s regular kibble

Medium Value

Great for focus around moderately challenging distractions, desensitize to mild concerns
Examples: Different brands of kibble, crunchy biscuit-type treats

High Value

Great for focus in most challenging environments, desensitize and countercondition moderate concerns
Examples: Soft dog treats (like Zuke’s), string cheese, chicken, hot dog

Lick-able Foods

Great to smear on toys/lick mats to sooth and keep pups occupied (grooming, settling). Put it in a squeeze tube to use on the go!
Examples: Plain yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, nut butter (no xylitol), spray cheese

Using high value and lick-able food sometimes masks dog body language that tells you when the puppy is ready for a break. If you’re using these extra tasty treats for activities that your puppy might be uncomfortable with, like clipping nails or other husbandry activities, be sure to keep sessions short and sweet, even if the pup isn’t resisting or avoiding the activity. Long sessions can push the puppy beyond what they’re ready to handle while keeping sessions short will help them learn that these activities are fun and rewarding!

Note: If your puppy is recovering from an upset stomach, stick to the pup’s kibble or plain boiled/baked lean meats (like chicken breast) as your food rewards to keep them regular!

Is the puppy refusing even the tastiest treats? Go back to your Rules of Three! Make sure you are setting the puppy up for success and keeping goals achievable. Reach out for support if you need help choosing appropriate food rewards or using regular kibble as food rewards at home and in low distraction environments.