Food as a Reward – Pitfalls and Key Aspects of Working with Food Motivation part 1.

Today, I’m back with another #InDepth post, inspired by your requests! 🎉

With a clear majority, you chose the topic of rewarding dogs with food, so here are my top ten tips on the subject. 🐾

First, a friendly reminder: my methods heavily rely on observing dogs in real-life scenarios and tailoring my approach to their individual needs, preferences, and even their mood on a given day. 🐕✨
So, consider this post as a source of inspiration rather than a cookie-cutter manual to follow blindly.

Alright, let’s dive in! And, as always, feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions in the comments. 😊

1. If your dog is alive, it means they eat.


Sounds obvious, right? Well… not entirely. Dog owners often fall into one of two camps:

Complaining their dog is a picky eater.

Complaining their dog is a food vacuum.

Of course, there are dogs with genuine digestive or appetite issues, but let’s face it – most “picky eaters” have been conditioned to be that way. 🤷‍♀️

Here’s the truth: if your dog is alive and relatively healthy, they eat. Full stop. And because eating is a fundamental need, it’s possible to build food motivation in almost any dog. Don’t rob yourself of such a simple and natural training tool!

Dogs also enjoy earning their food. I've seen plenty of so-called “picky eaters” who ignore a full bowl of kibble at home but gleefully snack on stale bread found in the bushes during a walk. 🥖🐕

If you think your dog is genuinely uninterested in food, dig deeper. Potential reasons might include:

  • Pain (e.g., from a musculoskeletal issue).
  • Behavioral or emotional distress.
  • Other health conditions.

Once medical reasons are ruled out, work on building their engagement and excitement for food during training sessions.

2. Free Access to Food, Empty Bowls, and Other Myths


The biggest enemy of food motivation is constant, unrestricted access to food. And no, it doesn’t help to say, “Oh, but the bowl only has dry kibble, and I use sausage for training.” If your dog has constant, effortless access to food, training motivation will eventually fade, especially in distracting environments. This isn’t the dog’s fault. 😉


On the flip side, some advocate for the so-called “empty bowl” approach, where all food must be earned through training. While I sometimes recommend this temporarily, I don’t support it long-term. It can create unnecessary anxiety and frustration, turning food into a survival game rather than a tool for effective learning.


My dogs get their meals at relatively fixed times. If they’re in intense training phases (like a puppy or a dog with lots to work on), most of their food comes through “work” (which might simply mean responding to their name on a walk). Still, a modest bowl of kibble is a constant in their routine.

Why? Because I don’t have to take away all their toys to make playtime with me exciting—likewise, I don’t need to take away all their food to make training effective.


That said, I do monitor their meals carefully: portion sizes, how it’s served, behavior before feeding, and so on. I also adjust their portions if needed—like when my dogs gain weight easily or are getting lots of treats during training.

3. Weight and Metabolism


If your dog is even a little overweight, it means they’re eating more than they need. Guess what that does to their food motivation? Yup, it kills it.


Keep in mind that recommended portions on food packaging are just guidelines. For instance, my 15kg border collie in peak training season eats nowhere near the same amount as a 15kg beagle who only takes short strolls around the block.


Also, don’t forget the sneaky extras: that tiny slice of ham, a licked plate, or a seemingly harmless chew treat—they all add up! If you’re training your dog regularly, a significant portion of their daily calories will come from rewards.

4. Quality of Rewards: Food vs. Treats


Now, let’s talk about why I emphasize rewarding with food instead of treats. My dogs work hard and train often, whether it’s recall during walks or performing tricks at training sessions.


If I used high-value treats like sausage for every session, I’d be feeding my dogs an unbalanced diet of sausages! 😂 So while I do use treats (especially for challenging tasks or early stages of training), the goal is to make working for their regular kibble rewarding.


For example, when I take my dog into the forest and want to reward an excellent recall, I might break out some aromatic cheese or sausage. However, I aim to transition to using regular kibble for most situations.


Still, if you’re teaching new behaviors, working in difficult conditions, or asking for something really hard—give them a good paycheck! No one works a full month in retail for $10, and dogs are no different.

5. When Food Isn’t a Reward


This is a tricky topic, often requiring hands-on experience with the dog and a deep understanding of their behavior. Few dogs come with built-in motivation—yes, even the “food-obsessed” ones learn that working for food is worthwhile.


Unfortunately, owners sometimes misuse food rewards, making the experience unpleasant for their dog. This could stem from excessive pressure, poor communication, unrealistic expectations, or a lack of foundational training.


For some dogs, even the way you deliver the reward matters! When was the last time you rewarded your dog with food without handing it directly to their mouth? 🦴 Try being creative with how you offer it!