Have you ever wondered whether, if you use treats to train your dog, your dog will ever work without treats? Lots of people ask that question. And it's a great question! 

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There are lots of factors that cause dogs to rely on a treat as a lure to perform a behavior. Luckily, if we are careful while training our dogs, we will not need to rely on a lure or a bribe! 

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Here are a few simple things to keep in mind. 

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1) Pay attention to where you keep your hands! Make sure your dog cannot see the treats in your hand while you're waiting for him to perform a behavior. Leave the treats on the counter, use a bait bag, or put your treat hand behind your back. 

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2) Vary treat delivery. Sometimes toss the treat away from your dog, sometimes deliver it straight to their mouth, sometimes toss it across the room. Keep treat delivery unpredictable. They always earn the treat for a click, but it doesn't always come from the same place. 

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3) Ask for multiple behaviors before delivering the treat. Vary how many behaviors your dog must perform before receiving the treat (especially for behaviors your dog already knows). Keep talking to your dog during training to keep it fun and keep them engaged! 

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And there you have it - a dog who will work for YOU, not just for food. Way to go, pup! 

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