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Australians love dogs.
According to the RSPCA, Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world with 48% of households owning a dog. Our furry friends not only occupy our homes, they occupy our hearts too – so it’s no wonder we want the best for them. And we also want our dogs to be at their best for us, which is why effective training for our pooches is such an important contributor to a harmonious household.
Dog training is all about teaching them appropriate behaviours through positive reinforcement – and experts agree that one of the very best ways of entrenching certain actions (like sitting, lying down, returning to you when called and not jumping up on people) is by giving them rewards.
Food treats are a well-established driver of good dog behaviour – provided they are used correctly. Treats should be chosen to suit your pooch’s taste preferences and dietary needs, and if the popularity of our DJays Gourmet pet treats is anything to go by, meaty rewards are a massive favourite among our canine companions.
In this article, we provide practical advice on how, when and why food treats can be used in your dog’s training journey and we explain just why our high-quality beef rewards can help keep them healthy, happy and well-behaved!
When it comes to dog training, there are some important points to note. Nothing works as a motivator quite as effectively as food, but you need to consider the following in your pooch’s ‘trick and treat’ journey:
Let’s now look at each of these factors in more detail.
Type of reward. Choosing the right dog training treat is essential. If you want the treat to work as a positive reinforcer, your pet must absolutely love it and want to work for it. The treat must be easy to eat (ie not too chewy and tough) and small enough for them to swallow quickly so that they aren’t distracted by it for too long. Our air-dried beef sausage treats smell and taste delicious, plus they are the perfect bite-size so they make ideal training aids.
Timing of the reward. Give your dog the treat immediately after they have completed the action you are aiming to reinforce. For example, if you’re teaching them to sit, hand them the treat the minute their bottom goes to the ground. If you wait too long before giving them the treat, they can become confused and uncertain about which behaviours are being rewarded. The flipside of this is to never give your dog a reward before they’ve completely the behaviour.
Avoiding overtreating. Every food treat – even a single bite-sized one – counts towards your dog’s diet, so you need to caution against overdoing it. Excess weight is problematic for their health, which is why experts recommend that training treats should constitute less than 10% of a dog’s daily intake. Our DJays Gourmet beef rewards are a wholesome low-fat, high-protein treat, made from premium Aussie beef with no added nasties like preservatives or sugar so you can incentivise your dog with total confidence.
Avoiding training fatigue. Dogs are likely to become distracted or bored during extended sessions so keep things short and sweet to maintain their (and your) levels of interest and participation.
Avoiding bribery. When does incentivising good behaviour in dogs become bribery? When you’re trying to train your four-legged friend, you need to make sure that the treat is strictly in response to a certain behaviour. They should do the behaviour in the hope or likelihood of getting a reward, rather than seeing the reward first and then being encouraged to do something in order to get it.
Consistency is key. Dogs learn more quickly and more effectively when your approach to training is consistent and predictable. This will also foster trust between the two of you and help your pooch feel happy and well-balanced.
High fat, high salt and high sugar foods are not good for humans or dogs. A beefy treat – provided it is made from high quality natural ingredients and manufactured in such a way that its integrity isn’t compromised and all the nutrients are preserved – makes it one of the most effective training aids around.
Dogs will smell its meaty goodness and will love its mouthwatering flavour – and we know that you will love the fact that you’re rewarding your canine companion with wholesome low-fat, high-protein tasty goodness.
Try our pet treats today. We make them exactly the same way that we make our biltong and jerky for humans, using the same premium Aussie beef and natural ingredients. Our beef treats come in convenient 80g or 250g packs or you can choose a 500g or 1kg bulk pack for extra convenience. Order your pet treats online and we’ll arrange fast delivery to you, wherever you are in Australia. Good luck with the training!
Arron Zamel has been General Manager of DJays Gourmet since 2015 and under his expert leadership, the company has cemented its reputation as Australia’s leading supplier of packaged jerky and biltong.
His strong family connection to South Africa, his marketing and management degree from Monash University, his technical expertise plus his experience as a successful entrepreneur and import/export business owner made him the ideal candidate for the challenging position.
Additionally, Arron’s innovative approach to management, his proven brand-building credentials, his strong customer focus and youthful energy have ensured that DJays Gourmet’s high-quality biltong and jerky have become Australia's dried meat treats of choice.
He understands traditional South African flavours and the precision techniques required to create truly authentic biltong, jerky and droewors (dried sausage). Part of his job is overseeing operations at DJays' purpose-built facility in Perth, WA where tons of Australian beef goes into making premium dried meat products each month for distribution to retail and wholesale customers across Australia.
For more insights into Arron’s world, visit the DJays Gourmet website, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram @djaysgourmet.
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