| By :
Dirik Hameed
Training your dog with toys can often be the appropriate measure, and a classic Kong toy is the choice that professional trainers make for good reason. Any dogs that suffer from obesity, fear issues, or high levels of treat anticipation can benefit from learning your expectations with toys as a reward. It is a cheaper, more effective way to reach a pup with issues and can be used for emotionally healthy canines, too. A kong original is great aid to teaching efforts for a wide variety of reasons. Even the dogs with the strongest of bites can not readily destroy this toy. By design these are the toys that are almost impossible to tear apart. They can hold a yummy morsel to encourage interest without being a source of unwanted calories. Additionally, you can leave them with your best friend unattended provided you have offered them the appropriate size. These toys are excellent for teaching Fido how to stay home alone without fear or anxiety. Whether in a crate or on a treasure hunt, frozen canned food in the Kong toy can help him associate your absence with pleasure instead of pain. He will be pushing you out the door if this is the only time he receives such a reward. Use different filling material at other times. Be sure that a big dog does not have access to a small Kong as these can end up being a choking hazard. Most hesitant dogs will respond better if you build the value of the toy. This will allow you to train him to do basic obedience, tricks, and even agility or flyball. Keep everything about the experiences he has with the toy as positive as possible. Refrain from yelling or scolding and never use physical punishment. Give the toy extra value by only using it for teaching sessions rather than allowing it to lie around all the time. Any kind of meat, canned food, or even peanut butter in small doses can be helpful for building up the toy's value. Stuffing it with Kong stuffing also helps. If the effort you are putting forth does not yield a result, stuff the Kong with goodies and then allows him to have it. When he is done, pick it back up. When he is really excited about seeing you get it for him, you know it has a high value to him. Then start teaching him basics through guidance. Sit should be a guided positioning by raising the toy so he has to look up at it. Of course, as soon as he does you want to present the reward along with a very happy "sit!" Avoid naming any behavior until he understands what it actually means. Otherwise you are simply asking him to do what he can not comprehend. The steps for using a Kong Toy instead of treats for training your dog follow the very same principle as teaching him to sit. Provide him with the guidance to perform the behavior you want, and then praise the achievement while giving him the reward. When you have built the value of the reward high enough, you can add activities that he enjoys with his reward like throwing it for him to chase. You can always train with special toys like this when treats are not the best option.
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