Training Dogs with Food Rewards - Version 2024

There is something every new trainer needs to know. If your dog won't take food, if it's not interested in your high-value food reward, it's either:

1 - full and not hungry

2 - it's distracted 

3 - it's stressed

If my dog is paying attention to the screaming kids next door the dog will often find the kids more interesting than the food reward we have.

If my dog is stressed, because of the environment I have chosen to train in, the dog will not take food. Look at it like this: if you are scared do you feel like eating? Probably not.  If you are mad, do you feel like eating,  probably not. STRESS KILLS FOOD DRIVE.

My Dog Won't Take Food Rewards

Ed Frawley has owned and trained dogs for over 45 years. He has bred over 350 litters of working bloodline German Shepherds in the last 30 years! He has been a police K9 handler for 10 years, was chairman of the training committee for the Wisconsin Police K9 Assoc. for several year. He has competed in AKC obedience training, Schutzhund and at one time was a herding Judge for the AKC. In 1982 Ed started to produce dog training videos and since that time he has produced over 120 dog training videos and DVDs. His web site, leerburg.com is over 10,000 pages which includes a web discussion board that has 8,500 members and an archive of over 100,000 posts.

Kids & Family

Pets & Animals

Dominant Dog Collar

Nylon Slip Collar

Article: Dominant Dog Collars vs. Slip Collars

Dominant Dog Collars and Slip Collars are tools used to manage dominant or aggressive dogs. In this video, you’ll learn the differences between both collars and why Dominant Dog Collars should be used on almost all dogs instead of a slip collar.

My Dog Won't Take Food Rewards

Download our free app to listen on your phone