🦴 How You Deliver Treats Can Make or Break Your Dog Training

Ryan Leese
11 minutes ago
2 min read

Treats are a powerful training tool — but how you deliver them matters just as much as what you’re giving. In this blog, we’ll break down different treat delivery methods, when to use each one, and how to adapt your technique based on your dog’s size, energy, or behaviour goals.

▶️ Watch the original video here:Why I Don’t Always Hand-Feed Treats – Watch on YouTube

▶️ Small dog or short-legged pup? Here’s your custom hack video:Rewarding Short Dogs on Walks – Watch on YouTube

🎯 Why Treat Delivery Matters

When you're training your dog — whether it’s loose lead walking, recall, tricks, or calm behaviour — the way you give the reward shapes your dog’s understanding.

Here are three main methods and when to use them:

1. Hand Feeding – Calm, Controlled, and Precise

Feeding directly to your dog’s mouth is ideal for:

Loose lead walking (to reward close position)
Reinforcing calm behaviour
Creating precision in training (e.g. “middle” or platform work)

💡 Tip: Present treats between your fingers, palm up, to prevent “land shark” biting and encourage gentle taking.

2. Dropping Treats on the Ground – Avoid Jumping or Reward in Motion

Dropping food can help if:

Your puppy jumps up when you reach toward them
You want to reward without stopping your walk
You’re working on self-control or marker timing

💡 Be sure the food doesn’t bounce away too far, or it can distract or confuse the dog.

3. Tossing Treats – Build Drive, Energy, or Reset a Rep

Tossing the treat behind your dog after a behaviour can:

Increase energy and motivation
Reset the dog for another repetition
Boost excitement and playfulness in the session

🛑 Not ideal for teaching calm behaviours like settle — throwing treats raises energy, which can work against you in low-arousal exercises.

🐾 What About Small Dogs or Short Legs?

One thoughtful comment asked:

“How do I reward my dog with short legs while walking? I can’t bend over every step!”

Brilliant question — and there are two excellent solutions:

Wooden Spoon Hack – Smear dog-safe peanut butter, cheese, or pate on a spoon and let your dog lick while you walk.
Ball Chucker Trick – Place a hard treat in a ball launcher and hold it down like a treat wand.

✅ These tricks help you reward a small dog at the right height — without breaking your back or compromising on timing.