Gear & equipment
The right training treats
A treat is a paycheque, and good training adjusts the pay to the job. A sit in the kitchen does not need the same reward as a recall away from a squirrel. Choosing the right food, cutting it to the right size and knowing when to thin it out keeps a dog keen without turning every walk into a buffet or upsetting its stomach.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Build a value ladder
Rank the food your dog cares about before you need it.
Spend a few evenings finding out what your dog actually likes. Offer two foods side by side and note which one it picks first. Kibble or a plain biscuit usually sits near the bottom, soft training bites in the middle, and small pieces of plain cooked meat near the top. Every dog ranks differently, so trust what yours chooses over what any package claims.
Match the rung to the difficulty. Low-value food is fine for practising a down in the living room. When you add a busy sidewalk, a new park or another dog in view, move up the ladder. If your dog refuses even its favourite food outdoors, that often means the setting is too much right now, and stepping back from the distraction helps more than hunting for a better treat.
- Test two foods side by side
- Low value for easy rooms
- High value for hard moments
- Refused food means too much
Size, safety, fading
Pea-sized pieces, a vet's view, then a plan to fade.
Cut pieces roughly the size of a pea for a medium dog, and smaller for a toy breed. Soft food that does not crumble lets the dog swallow and get back to work instead of searching the floor for crumbs. Count training food as part of the daily ration and trim meals to match. For allergies, intolerances, weight concerns or a prescription diet, your vet is the right person to decide what is safe.
Food is for teaching, not forever. Once a behaviour is solid in a setting, reward some repetitions and not others, and swap in praise, play or access to what the dog wants, like the sniff or the open door. Fading too early is a common mistake, and so is never fading at all. Owners in our programs are shown how the reward schedule was built, so they can keep thinning it at home.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
What are the best treats for dog training?
The best treats are the ones your dog will work for, cut small and soft enough to eat in a moment. Many owners use kibble at home and a richer food for outdoor distractions. There is no single best product, only the right match for the dog and the moment.
How big should training treats be?
Small: roughly pea-sized for a medium dog and smaller for little dogs. Training involves many repetitions, so large pieces fill a dog up quickly and slow everything down.
Can I use my dog's kibble as training treats?
Yes, for easy work in familiar places. Measuring out part of the daily meal for training keeps calories in check. Around outdoor distractions, many dogs need something they value more.
My dog has food allergies. What treats can I use?
Ask your vet first. They can tell you which proteins and ingredients fit your dog's diet, and sometimes a portion of the prescribed food can double as a training reward.
Keep reading
Pay your dog well
Book a consultation to talk through what motivates your dog, and we will suggest the program that fits, smaller when smaller works.
From real owners
Rated 5.0 on Google.
Real Northline dogs