Treats aren’t bribes
Myth: “If you use treats, you are bribing your dog”Truth: Treats are a positive reward — payment for a job well done! Just like we get paid for work, dogs need motivation to learn new skills.
Using treats isn’t bribery – it’s giving your dog a clear, positive signal that they did the right thing. Treats or toys can both be used as rewards for any age, but with very young dogs, treats are usually the easiest and most practical option.
As training progresses, you can keep things fun and engaging by mixing in different kinds of rewards alongside food:
- Toy Rewards: a quick game of tug, fetch, or chasing a favourite toy.
- Praise: enthusiastic verbal encouragement, petting, or tummy rubs.
- Life Rewards: letting them go outside, sniff around, or explore a new area.
- Challenges and experiences: learning a new trick, navigating a short obstacle, or solving a puzzle toy.
By varying rewards, your dog stays motivated and engaged while building positive associations — training becomes an enjoyable experience for both of you.
Good Habits Start Young
Your Puppy won’t stay little forever, so now’s the time to put the building blocks in place for a well-mannered companion.
Here are a few quick training habits to begin with:
- Set Routines: Predictable mealtimes and toileting breaks make house training easier.
- Reward Calmness: Don’t just reward tricks — notice when your pup is lying quietly and let them know that’s great too.
- Short training bursts: 2–3 minutes of focused training a few times a day is far more effective than one long session.
Our Puppy Training School and/or tailored 1-2-1 sessions provide you with the key building blocks you need to guide your puppy through the early stages with ease, helping you prevent problems before they start.
Our next Puppy Training School starts on Sunday, the 5th of October
Reserve your space here today
or contact info@pawsibilities.co.uk for more information
We all love the idea of our dogs running free
A reliable recall isn’t just a trick – it’s a lifesaver.Whether it’s avoiding danger, enjoying off-lead freedom, or simply making walks more fun, a recall is one of the most important skills your dog can learn. That’s why we teach it in our Puppy and Junior schools and can also offer tailored 1-2-1 training.
Why a recall matters:
- Safety – protects your dog from traffic, wildlife, unexpected dangers, and undesirable situations.
- Freedom – allows safe off-lead exploration and more enjoyable walks.
- Trust – strengthens the relationship between you and your dog.
- Reliability – ensures you can confidently manage your dog in any environment.
- Essential life skill – recall is one of the foundations of responsible dog ownership.
A recall should always feel like a game! When your dog loves coming back to you, training becomes fun, rewarding, and reliable.
- If a recall with your dog is a challenge, we can guide you to build a recall you can trust — for every adventure, big or small.
Contact us: info@pawsibilities.co.uk