All dogs, big or small, need rewards and positive reinforcement. However, rewarding a small dog can be more difficult when it comes to things like loose leash training – how do you go about it?
Of course, some of the best dog treats are always worth having in your pocket for training sessions and walks, but what should we know about rewarding small dogs specifically?
Well, Amelia Steele, a professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant known as Amelia the Dog Trainer, has offered some advice in a new Instagram post.
First off, Steele advises teaching your pup to catch. “So, instead of having to bend down to treat her, all I can do is, ‘Brooklyn, catch!’ and get her to catch it,” she explains while demonstrating with the dog she’s working with, Brooklyn.
“Every dog can learn how to catch,” she explains. “To teach this, all you need to do is let your dog know that you are about to throw a treat. So, I like to say, ‘One, two, three, catch.’”
Then, you throw the treat toward the dog’s nose. Steele says that some dogs will get the hang of this straight away, while others might need some more practice to get it right – don’t worry if your dog misses the treat at first! Training dogs with treats is a great way to keep them engaged and focused, and they’ll soon learn what to do.
Another way to reward your small dog is to roll a treat behind you. Simply roll it behind you for your dog to find, and then when your dog catches back up to you, you can reward them again, or go back into another loose leash game.
Steele goes on to say that, despite some people’s views on rewarding to the floor, doing so won’t encourage your dog to scavenge. “Dogs are natural-born scavengers and actually giving them an outlet for it that comes from us is a really great way to fulfill that need,” she explains. “As long as you mark at the right time when they’re looking at you or engaging with you, you can then deliver the treat to wherever you want to.”
For more loose leash training advice, here are three of the most common loose leash walking mistakes (and how to fix them). And remember, it’s not a problem if your dog doesn’t work out how to catch a treat right away – keep persevering with them!
