When it comes to training your dog, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that rewarding positive behavior with any old treat is enough to ensure your pup will master a new skill or behavior.
But did you know that when it comes to the best dog treats they're not all created equal? If not, you're far from alone!
In a recent post shared to Instagram, expert trainer Piper Novick explains the law of matching value — and it's a brilliant piece of advice to follow if you're looking to improve your dog's behavior.
"Throughout your dog's life, you'll ask them to do all sorts of tasks. Some of these tasks are easy, some of them are really hard, and others fall somewhere in between," Novick explains.
"The law of matching value dictates that you match the level of difficulty with the value of your reward. Basically, pay your dog well for the hard stuff!"
So, what exactly does the law of matching value look like in real-life terms? Well, according to Novick, if you're training your reactive dog outside in the busy world, you'll want to use high-value treats like chopped hot dogs, deli meats or cheese.
If, on the other hand, you're training a sit-stay in your living room where there are minimal distractions, lower value treats, like kibble or biscuit-style treats, are a much better option.
In other words — as the difficulty of the task increases, increase the reward value to match it. This is one of our favorite tips for training your dog on your own and it can help you make real positive progress when it comes to improving your dog's behavior.
It's also important to know that you don't need to go it alone on your training journey. If you feel you and your pup would benefit from some extra support, here's how to spot dog trainer red flags so you can ensure you're working with a qualified professional.
