Beyond Biscuits: The Real Secret to Motivating Your Dog

Finding the Right High-Value Reward for Your Dog: Why It Matters and How to Do It

Training your dog is about building clear communication, setting consistent expectations, and creating positive experiences. But one of the most crucial — and often underestimated — parts of successful dog training is finding the right reward. Not just any reward, but one your dog will genuinely work for, even when distractions are everywhere. At Paws Academy, we often say: if the reward doesn’t matter to your dog, it won’t matter in your training.

This is where the idea of a high-value reward comes in. But what exactly does that mean, and how do you work out what it is for your dog?

What Is a High-Value Reward?

A high-value reward is something your dog finds significantly more rewarding than the everyday. It’s the thing that makes their eyes light up, their tail wag a little harder, and their focus sharpen — even in challenging situations.

This kind of reward is especially useful in environments with lots of distractions, when you’re introducing a new behaviour, or when reinforcing something particularly important, like recall. It’s not about spoiling your dog or bribing them — it’s about meeting their needs and working with their natural motivations.

Crucially, high-value means high-value to the dog, not to you. It doesn’t matter if it’s messy, smelly, or inconvenient. If it motivates your dog and improves their response, then it’s doing its job.

The Role of Motivation in Dog Training

Dogs, like people, need a reason to do something. When they understand that certain behaviours lead to positive outcomes, they’re more likely to repeat them. This is the foundation of reward-based training. What is the real secret to motivating your dog? Read on to find out.

But motivation is not a fixed thing. It can change based on the setting, your dog’s mood, their energy levels, and even the time of day. For this reason, you need to stay flexible and observant.

Think about it like this: if someone asked you to do a difficult task in a noisy, unfamiliar environment, would you be more willing to do it for a generic “thank you”, or for a bonus you really care about? Dogs aren’t so different. The right reward increases the likelihood that your dog will listen, even when the world around them is full of distractions.

Food Rewards: Where to Begin

For many dogs, food is the easiest and most effective reward to use. It’s convenient, it can be given quickly, and it taps into a dog’s natural drive for sustenance.

But not all food is created equal in your dog’s eyes.

Dry kibble or shop-bought dog biscuits might work at home or in low-distraction settings. But when you’re training at the park, working on recall at the beach, or trying to get focus near other dogs, those same treats might fall short.

That’s where high-value food rewards come in. These are usually soft, smelly, and easy to chew quickly. Examples include:

• Cooked chicken breast, chopped into tiny pieces

• Liver or liver pâté

• Cheese (in moderation)

• Hot dog slices

• Tuna

• Minced beef

• Commercial soft training treats with high meat content

When trying new food rewards, observe your dog’s reaction. Do they take the treat eagerly? Do they stay close and look for more? Are they more focused than usual? These are all signs you’re using something that matters to them.

If, on the other hand, they sniff and walk away, or take it slowly and wander off, it might not be valuable enough for the situation.

It’s Not Always About Food

While food is a highly effective motivator for many dogs, it’s not the only option. Some dogs are more driven by toys, physical touch, or opportunities to engage in play or exploration.

A dog with a strong play drive might find a squeaky toy, a ball, or a game of tug more motivating than food. Others may value a brief chase, a sniff of a favourite spot, or even a few seconds of enthusiastic praise.

Understanding what motivates your dog takes time and attention. It often involves a bit of experimentation, trial and error, and observing your dog’s body language. It can also shift depending on the environment and your dog’s emotional state.

Context Matters More Than You Think

One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is assuming a treat that works in one setting will work everywhere. A piece of kibble that your dog loves in the kitchen might be completely ignored at the park.

Why? Because context changes everything.

Dogs, especially younger or less experienced ones, often struggle to focus in new or exciting environments. The sights, smells, sounds, and presence of other dogs or people can be overwhelming. In those moments, you need something that cuts through the noise — a reward that’s worth their full attention.

That’s why it’s a good idea to have a reward ladder — a mental list of treats and reinforcers, from lower-value to higher-value, so you can scale up depending on the environment.

For example:

• At home in a quiet room? A dry biscuit might do.

• On a walk in a quiet area? Bring soft treats like cooked meat.

• At a busy park with dogs running around? You’ll need your top-tier reward — maybe liver, cheese, or tug play.

Being prepared and adjusting your rewards to suit the setting shows respect for your dog’s needs and helps build trust.

Using High-Value Rewards Strategically

You don’t need to use your highest-value rewards for everything — and in fact, you shouldn’t. If you offer liver or chicken every time your dog sits, it stops feeling special. Instead, use top-tier rewards strategically.

Save them for:

• Practising or reinforcing recall

• Training in high-distraction environments

• Teaching a brand-new behaviour

• Encouraging engagement in places where your dog normally disconnects

• Working with fear, anxiety, or reactivity (where a strong reinforcer can shift emotional responses)

Using high-value rewards in this way keeps them effective and maintains their novelty.

When Your Dog Isn’t Food Motivated — And You Want Them to Be

Not all dogs are naturally driven by food, and that can feel frustrating if you’re trying to train using rewards. But the good news is that food motivation is often something you can build over time with the right approach.

First, it’s important to rule out anything medical. If your dog consistently shows no interest in food — even high-value options — and their appetite is generally low, it’s worth speaking to your vet to ensure there isn’t an underlying issue affecting their appetite.

Assuming your dog is healthy, there are a few practical steps you can take to gently increase their interest in food as a training reward.

Adjust Meal Times

One of the most effective and ethical ways to build food motivation is to train before meals. This doesn’t mean starving your dog or drastically reducing food — it simply means structuring their day so they’re a little more receptive when it’s time to train.

If your dog normally eats breakfast at 8am, try using some of their daily food allowance for training at that time instead. When dogs are slightly hungry, they’re more likely to engage with food in a positive way. Just remember to account for what you use in training and reduce their bowl portion accordingly to avoid overfeeding.

Make Training More Interactive

Some dogs simply find the act of eating from your hand or from a treat pouch boring. Try turning food into a game or part of an activity. Scatter feeding, treat chases, or using food in puzzle toys or snuffle mats can build excitement and anticipation around food.

You can also combine movement with food-based games — for example, toss a treat a short distance and encourage your dog to “find it” or “go get it.” This makes food more dynamic and ties it to something fun.

Use Higher-Value Rewards

If your dog isn’t interested in dry biscuits or shop-bought treats, don’t assume they’re not food motivated at all — it might simply be that those specific foods don’t hold much appeal.

Experiment with stronger-smelling, more flavourful options like cooked meats, liver, or cheese. Try warming the treats slightly to enhance their scent. Some dogs need a bit more sensory input to get excited about food, especially in stimulating environments.

Train in Low-Distraction Settings

If you’re trying to introduce food as a reward in a distracting or high-energy environment, your dog may not be able to process both the surroundings and the food. Start in a calm, familiar space with minimal distractions, and gradually build from there.

Once your dog begins to associate food with calm, rewarding moments, you can begin to introduce it into slightly more stimulating settings, always moving at their pace.

Pair Food with Other Rewards

If your dog is toy- or praise-motivated, you can begin by pairing food with those existing rewards. For example, ask for a behaviour, reward with a piece of food, and immediately follow with a quick game or praise.

This can help transfer some of the excitement your dog feels for play or interaction onto the food itself. Over time, they may begin to view food as a more exciting reward in its own right.

Keep Sessions Short and Positive

Pushing too hard or making training feel like pressure can turn dogs off — from the activity and the reward. Keep sessions brief, upbeat, and full of praise. Even a few successful repetitions with a food reward is a great step in the right direction.

Building food motivation doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not about forcing your dog to like something they dislike. It’s about gently guiding them to see food as part of a fun, rewarding experience — not just something in a bowl.

Practical Steps to Discover What Works

If you’re not sure what your dog’s high-value reward is, start with a simple test at home. Lay out three or four treat options — say, some kibble, cooked chicken, cheese, and a shop-bought soft treat. Offer one at a time and see which one gets the biggest reaction.

Once you’ve narrowed it down, try offering that same treat in different locations. Watch how your dog responds in the living room, in the garden, at the front gate, and then on a walk. You’ll likely notice that their focus shifts depending on what’s going on around them.

Do the same with toys. Offer a rope toy, a ball, or a squeaky item — and test different ways of playing. Some dogs love a tug game, while others prefer chasing a thrown toy or simply holding something in their mouth.

Take notes, pay attention, and stay curious. It’s not just about discovering what works — it’s about strengthening your understanding of your dog as an individual.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

While the idea of using high-value rewards is straightforward, it’s important to be thoughtful in how you apply it:

• Portion size matters. Treats should be small — ideally the size of a pea — so you can give multiple rewards in one session without overfeeding.

• Dietary needs and sensitivities should always be considered. Not every dog can tolerate rich foods like cheese or liver, so introduce new treats gradually and monitor their response.

• Rotate and refresh your rewards. Just like humans, dogs can get bored. If the same treat is used over and over, it can lose its value. Mix things up to keep training sessions engaging.

• Training is not a transaction. While rewards are important, they’re part of a broader relationship built on trust, clear communication, and mutual respect.

Final Thoughts from Paws Academy

At Paws Academy, we believe that effective training isn’t just about teaching commands — it’s about understanding your dog and meeting them where they are. Finding the right high-value reward is a simple yet powerful way to improve communication, strengthen your bond, and help your dog succeed.

When you take the time to explore what motivates your dog, you create a more engaging and rewarding experience for both of you. Whether it’s food, play, praise, or freedom, the right reinforcer turns training from a chore into a shared moment of connection.

So, experiment, observe, and be flexible. Your dog is always giving you feedback — all you have to do is pay attention.

Got a question about rewards or your dog’s training progress?

Feel free to message us — we’re always happy to help!