The majority of dogs will do almost anything to get a tasty treat. Training with treats is a dog owner’s go-to strategy because of this type of food-motivated behavior, but what happens when your dog isn’t interested in your pocketful of biscuits and bones?
Without the right motivation, teaching an obedience to a dog may seem impossible. When rewards don’t work, it’s time to try a different strategy because you need to do something to get their attention and get them to listen. The good news is that treats aren’t your only training tool. Try these tips to tame your treat-resistant dog.
Think of dog treats like currency. In essence, you are paying your dog to engage in a specific behavior, and some dogs will not work for less than the minimum wage. Your dog may not be responding to a store-bought dog treat, but a piece of chicken or a piece of cheese that has just come off the grill might be sufficient to engage their stomach.
Try out various high-quality (and dog-friendly) foods before giving up on training with treats. As long as your dog doesn’t have any food intolerances or allergies, meat, cheese, and peanut butter are known to be universal favorites.
Distractions are a constant obstacle with training. Although you want your dog to focus on whatever lesson you’re trying to teach, people, things, sounds, and smells are frequently much more alluring. Sometimes a dog simply decides to forgo a treat in order to stare down the cat across the street.
If you’re training a dog who is brand-new to your house, they might be preoccupied with exploring their surroundings and not pay attention to the treat you’re holding. See if your dog suddenly develops an appetite by taking them somewhere quiet and free from distractions.
Don’t give up if your dog consistently rejects treats despite the type of food you provide. It simply means that you must use a different type of positive reinforcement. Giving your dog an objective through interactive play will give them something to strive for, and it will also strengthen your relationship.
Hold your dog’s favorite toy out like a treat, and when they comply with your requests, immediately praise them with a rousing game of their preferred sport. The secret to toy training is getting your dog to settle down so they can continue working. It will require patience, but with consistent action, they’ll quickly pick it up.
Why Isn’t Your Dog Responding to Food Motivation?
Food treats are used as training aids for dogs in the hopes that they will form favorable associations between the desired behavior and the food reward. The majority of the time it works pretty well, but occasionally dogs just don’t react.
Several causes are listed below as to why your dog may not react to training treats:
Obesity is a growing problem in our furry friends. In North America, between 25 and 30 percent of all dogs are obese, and between 40 and 45 percent of dogs older than 5 to 11 years are obese!
Given that they consume enough kibble, obese dogs may not be as interested in food treats. Restoring your overweight dog to a healthy weight is essential for both his physical and psychological well-being.
Before you do that, however, you’ll want to get him checked out by your DVM to ensure he isn’t obese because of a medical condition like thyroid disease or diabetes.
Since you know he is prone to obesity, it is probably a good idea to completely avoid food treats in your training sessions with him once you are able to assist him in losing weight. We’ll talk about what you can do instead below. Use low-calorie training treats as a last resort if that isn’t an option.
Many dogs experiencing stress are not interested in eating anything. How secure a dog feels has a direct impact on his willingness to eat.
When in distress, dogs prioritize their own safety over food. Another possibility is that your dog is simply too energized to think about eating.
Eustress, or “good stress,” is the name for this kind of stress. Your dog may be excited because he’s about to go for a walk or because he really enjoys what he’s doing. He’s thinking about that instead of eating.
Some Dog Breeds Aren’t Food Motivated
Some dog breeds respond more to food motivation than others. Beagles and Labradors are two breeds that benefit greatly from training rewards. If your dog belongs to one of these breeds, he or she enjoys receiving a small food reward as form of positive reinforcement.
However, some dog breeds, such as terriers, herders, and guardian breeds, are less motivated by food. They would rather play, sniff, or go on a hunt than receive a kibble treat. You’ll probably need more expensive treats to train these dog breeds.
How to Train a Dog Who’s Not Interested in Food Rewards
There are a number of things you can try if your dog is not responding to food or treats when you use positive reinforcement training. Let’s look at some of your options.
The first thing to do is simply try different foods. You should try to use foods your dog enjoys as a way to motivate him to eat. Dogs have different tastes from humans, and they favor some things while disliking others.
As a result, you can experiment with various food rewards to determine which ones are most effective. You can use that as your dog’s high-value treat when training him. You might also try foods your dog doesn’t normally get.
You can use safe, tasty foods like peanut butter, hot dogs, and others in small amounts as food rewards for your dog. Just be sure to feed them in tiny amounts or pieces, and avoid using any brands that contain xylitol in the ingredients.
FAQ
Why is my dog not food motivated anymore?
Your Dog Is Stressed Many stressed-out dogs show no interest in eating. How secure a dog feels has a direct impact on his willingness to eat. When in distress, dogs prioritize their own safety over food. Another possibility is that your dog is simply too energized to think about eating.
How can I motivate my dog to eat?
- Set a Feeding Schedule. Get your dog on a feeding schedule if they are currently free-fed.
- Try Different Treats. …
- Recognize and Accommodate Stress. …
- End Lessons on a High Note. …
- Use Toys as Reinforcement.
How do you reward a dog that isn’t food motivated?
Play as a Reward Hold your dog’s favorite toy out like a treat, and when they comply with your requests, immediately reward them with a rousing game of their preferred activity. The secret to toy training is getting your dog to settle down so they can continue working.
Why is my dog not enthusiastic about eating?
Fear, Anxiety, and Stress Long-term anxiety can make a dog less hungry. Most people do this as a result, leaving food out all day, which can make the issue worse. Keep your dog on a feeding schedule. Be sure to pick up your dog’s food bowl if it wanders away.