Is It Bribery To Use Food Treats In Training?

A lot of people I meet are concerned about using food treats in training. When their dog is performing well, they’ll say things like:

• “He’s just doing it for the treats.”

• “She’ll do anything for food!”
  
  

But here’s the thing - that’s not a bad thing.

When it boils down to it, there are really only two motivations in dog training:

• The dog is working to receive something.

• The dog is working to avoid something.
  
  

On both sides of that spectrum, there’s a range of value. For most dogs, food treats are high-value compared to, say, verbal praise or pats.

And here’s another big advantage: food rewards allow you to be precise. With treats (and especially marker training), you can pinpoint the exact moment your dog does the right thing, making it crystal clear what they’re being rewarded for.

Not many dogs will work for praise only when they’re brand new to a behaviour. Think about it: if your dog has no idea what “sit” means yet, your happy voice isn’t enough to teach them what to do with their body.

That’s where higher-value rewards come in. Using food in the beginning helps your dog understand and practice the behaviour. Later, once the behaviour is reliable, you can reduce food and rely more on praise, life rewards (like going for a walk), or occasional treats.

There are usually two options when showing a dog how to perform a behaviour:

• Guide them with a lure (like following a food treat).

• Physically move them into position.
  
  

You can also do a mix of both.

But let’s be real - most dogs would rather earn a treat than be shoved into place. Food rewards are motivating, clear, and create a more positive learning experience.

The key is making sure the food is used as a reward, not a bribe.

At first, your dog may follow a treat to learn the movement. But the next step is crucial: once they start to understand, wait for the behaviour to happen first, then reward after.

This is how the treat becomes a true reward instead of a lure you have to wave around every time. Over time, you can reduce the frequency of food rewards until they’re just an occasional bonus.

So, is it bribery to use food in training? No - not if you use it correctly. Think of it as paying your dog for a job well done. Once they know the job inside and out, you don’t have to “pay” them as often and can use different forms of "currency," like praise and affection.

Food rewards are just one part of effective training. Inside my online courses, I’ll show you step-by-step how to use rewards properly (and avoid common mistakes).

👉 Check out the Dog Matters Academy for more resources and training support.

👉 Or, if you’re raising a puppy, start with my Puppy Priorities course for everything you need to set your pup up for success.