Puppy Training With Bribes

Puppies respond to two things - affection and food (treats). Actually there are more than just these two but most result in a nervous and fearful puppy, such as happens by using a loud, mean voice. My first choice would be to use affection as a reward in training your puppy. That way you don’t have to carry a pocketful of treats with you at all times.

Some dogs just learn faster with treats as their reward but if you are patient you will find that most puppies will want to learn from you if they know it pleases you. You show that it pleases you with affection. Pet your puppy, say “Good Boy (or Girl)”, but don’t turn it into a play session. During training sessions the goal is to teach your puppy a behavior, not to play.

Using treats or using affection is your choice, but always be patient and calm. During training no harsh tones or loud commands are allowed. A firm voice is fine so that your puppy learns that you mean business just as long as you control it. And above all, do not get frustrated. After all, a puppy is just a baby dog that happens to learn a whole lot faster than a baby human :)