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Originally Posted by Christinee  I didn't read your post until after my last post. I will keep all this in mind. I don't want to over do it. I am going to give the cheerios a try. But the packaged treats from petco are definitely a no. He doesn't care for them. I thought cheese may be a bit much at his age. |
I believe the way a treat reward is presented has a lot to do with the value of the treat. When I present Max with a kibble, it is my enthusiasm and praise that makes the kibble so appealing. It is the ritual. He loves the sound of the kibble container, the button that has to be pushed to pop the top.
Also, you condition the dog's expectations by what you give as a treat and when and how often. So, if you start out with lots of yummy cheese for potty breaks, your dog will have really high expectations for treats. Finding something of higher value for later training will be difficult. Hope that makes sense. I have my boys conditioned to be very happy with the tiniest bits of anything, and they know that boiled chicken, a tiny shred of parmesan, or a dab of baked sweet potato are really, really special treats.