We know that positive reinforcement training is good for dogs (and cats!) because it keeps their brains active, helps to build the human-animal bond, and teaches them skills that help them live in a human world. But do you ever think about how it also provides enrichment in the form of little morsels of tasty food? This aspect of training is often overlooked by pet guardians, who sometimes grumble about the need to use food in training. But food is a great way to motivate your dog or cat to do particular behaviors or teach them to love something they aren’t sure about (or are even downright scared of). And as a bonus, because the food we use in training is not their daily kibble, it provides tasty bites of food enrichment.

The main role of food in training is to provide motivation. We can’t expect dogs or cats to do what we say just because we tell them, but they will work for food, in just the same way we will work for money to buy food, clothes, music, and other things we need or want. It becomes part of a contract between us and the pet: They follow our cue, and we reward them with a tasty piece of chicken or tuna.

Yet, we do have to think about what kind of food to use and how to store it. If we’re training at home, we can keep chopped pieces........

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