How to Use Natural Treats for Effective Dog Training: Tips from a Dog Trainer
Hello everyone !
Today we are pleased to present you an exclusive interview between our online natural treats store and one of our partners, a dog training expert, Namasdog .
We're going to discuss the importance of chewing for our four-legged friends and how proper training can improve their well-being.
Sako&co:
Hi Lisa , thanks for joining us today! To start, can you tell us about your background and your business?
Namasdog:
*laughs* It was a challenging journey that led me to become a canine behaviorist! I have always loved animals, but I was often told that working with them was not a real job, except being a breeder or veterinarian. So, I first followed a more traditional path by studying literature. Then I dropped everything to work in zoos and confront wildlife. I discovered the basics of training techniques there, but the setting did not correspond to my ethics, so I explored other animal professions.
But the real trigger was the arrival of Inouk. Unlike my first dog Mała, Inouk turned my daily life upside down! Overwhelmed, I called on a canine behaviorist, whose gentle methods transformed the situation. This event was a real turning point for me. This professional became my mentor, I trained extensively and finally found my vocation: helping others, humans and dogs, to understand each other better in order to live better together.
What started as a simple quest for personal balance has turned into a true passion and the career of my dreams.
Sako&co:
Now let's talk about chewing in dogs. Why is it so important?
Namasdog:
Chewing is essential for various reasons, the first of which is unfortunately still too little known!
Providing objects to chew helps meet this instinctive need .
It is good to know that not all dogs have the same chewing needs: some will practice this activity 8 hours a day while others are content with 2 times a month .
Chewing also helps the dog to keep busy, to exercise (1 hour of chewing = 3 hours of walking!), to calm down (because by licking, it releases oxytocin, serotonin, endorphin and dopamine in its brain, which are the hormones of happiness) and to maintain good oral health (elimination of tartar).
Sako&co:
What advice would you give to owners to choose the right treats for their dogs?
Namasdog:
The first and most essential thing is to know your pet and its individual preferences well.
To really know your dog's preferences , I recommend you do the pyramid test !
1. Take a treat in each of your hands.
2. Present your closed hands to your dog and let him sniff them.
3. When he has felt both of them enough, open both your hands and distance them from his muzzle and present them to him at the same time.
4. Which treat does he eat first? Does he choose the same one if you switch their places in your hands?
Sako&co:
How do you incorporate treats into your dog training sessions?
Namasdog:
It all depends on the dog's motivation.
Some are perfectly capable of working with kibble taken directly from their food ration, while others need more motivation.
This is where Sako&Co treats come into play !
Sako&co:
Can you tell us about some of the successes you have had using this method?
Namasdog:
Honestly? I don't know which one to choose! 😅
I also think of Bella! *Laughs* Little beagle puppy who was literally overflowing with energy that her humans felt helpless in the face of because they didn't know what to do to channel it! The calf's hooves literally saved the young couple's furniture!
Sako&co:
Before we conclude, do you have any final advice to give to our readers?
Namasdog:
If you use treats for training, choose treats that are small, low in calories and easy to chew so your dog can eat them quickly and stay motivated throughout your training.
No more dry biscroks from Intermarché!