Tasty Treats are Helpful Tools

Think of the last time you got a little treat for yourself. Maybe it was that pair of shoes you’ve been looking at, or maybe it was a slice of chocolate cake–either way, treats for us are often just indulgences. In your dogs’ case, however, treats are so much more than just fun snacks; they’re essential tools for your dog’s training. 

Dog treats come in a variety of types and sizes: some crunchy, some soft, some bite-sized, some long-lasting. No matter what your dog’s favorite flavor is, choosing high-quality treats can make all the difference when it comes to the success of your training program. 

So, how can you use treats to help your dog’s progress?

The Psychology of Positive Reinforcement

As a dog owner, you’re probably familiar with the term “positive reinforcement.” According to the AKC, positive reinforcement uses praise and rewards to encourage desired behaviors. For example, giving your dog a treat for sitting properly encourages that behavior and makes them more likely to do it again in the future. 

Edible treats are among the most effective motivators for dogs. Biologically speaking, the necessity of food has determined many of modern dogs’ drives and behaviors, and thus, receiving food with minimal effort comes across as a huge reward. Once your dogs know that they’ll receive food for repeated good behavior, you’re likely to find that training is a breeze.

Furthermore, rewarding your dog with treats is a great way to build trust between the two of you. Your dog will easily identify you as a provider and a reliable source of healthy snacks; they’ll look forward to training sessions and be eager to continue learning.

Why Healthy Treats Matter

Here at Pawsitively Pure Dog Food, we believe that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Training your dog can be a lifelong pursuit, with your dog continuing to learn good behaviors year after year. What’s more, you should continue to positively reinforce learned behaviors over time to ensure your dog is still invested in repeating those good habits. That’s why offering your dog healthy treats is so important. 

• Avoid harmful ingredients. Low-quality, mass-produced dog treats often include a number of preservatives and fillers that can cause health problems over time or if treats are offered too frequently. Such health issues can include weight gain, digestive problems, allergies, and beyond. 

• Bring on the good stuff. On the other hand, healthy, all-natural treats not only avoid the negative health effects, but they can also offer a nutritional boost to your dog’s daily diet. After switching to all-natural dog food and treats, many dog owners notice improved skin and coat, higher energy levels, and improved digestion. Ingredients like blueberries and sweet potatoes are both nutrient dense and delicious!

• Don’t forget about portion control. Being mindful of your dog’s treat intake is important in maintaining their weight. If your training schedule is intensive, it’s a good idea to break treats into smaller pieces to make bite-sized rewards for correct behavior. 

Choosing the Right Treats for Your Training Sessions

When it comes down to it, the right treat for your dog is a matter of taste. Soft, chewy treats are easy for dogs to consume while they’re busy with a new task, but some dogs prefer the crunch of a chicken crisp or a biscuit. It can be a good idea to have a couple different treats on hand to keep your dog from getting bored and losing interest when it’s time for training and rewards. Experiment with different ingredients, textures, and flavors to find out what makes your dog’s tail wag the hardest. 

Now is the perfect time to stock up on some new, healthy treats to help make your dog’s training sessions a breeze. Selecting a treat that’s low on fillers and high on nutritional value not only makes training fun, but also provides your dog with critical nutrients and improves their overall quality of life. Pawsitively Pure Dog Food offers all-natural, soft biscuits and all-meat, crunchy chicken crisps so your dogs have a variety of tasty treats to choose from. Head over to our shop to order yours today.

Who Rescued Whom?

The decision to adopt a dog is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. After all, you’re expanding your family and welcoming a new member to your pack! However, the thought of adopting a rescue dog may cause some people to hesitate. Many people think that rescue dogs come along with too much damage, from fears to bad behaviors and health issues. Wouldn’t it be easier to just start fresh?

Not at all! Rescue dogs make wonderful companions that offer companionship and unconditional love to their adopted families. You’ll need to prepare your home and your heart equally whether you choose to bring home a rescue dog or buy from a responsible breeder. What’s more, adopting a rescue dog helps give a deserving dog another chance at a happy life!

Why You Should Rescue a Dog

Rescuing a dog can be a rewarding experience for everyone involved. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should rescue your next dog: 

1. You’re saving a life. This one is obvious–it’s an incredible feeling to save a life! Dogs wind up in shelters for myriad reasons, and every dog deserves a chance at a happy, healthy life filled with love. You’ll see in the way your rescue dog “smiles” and wags their tail just how thankful they are that you found them.

2. You’re saving other lives, too. Shelter overpopulation is a serious problem, and animal shelters nationwide are pressed for space to rescue and care for animals in need. By adopting a dog, you’re freeing up a space for another dog that needs help.

3. You’re supporting animal health and protection services. Rescue organizations like Orange County Animal Services do so much for the community at large, offering services like spaying/neutering, microchipping, and beyond. When you adopt from one of these facilities, your money is helping to improve and maintain such programs.

4. You’re gaining a new best friend. Everyone loves love! Your rescue dog will give you just as much love as you give them. What’s not to love about a walking partner, adventure pal, playmate, and snuggle buddy all in one?

How to Make the Right Environment for Your Rescue Dog

Rescue dogs don’t have it easy, and they may be a little skittish at first depending on their histories and how they handled their time at the shelter–which is understandable. If your rescue seems a little nervous or reluctant at first, don’t worry. The commonly cited “3-3-3” rule says that rescue dogs tend to take 3 days to acclimate to their surroundings, 3 weeks to train and learn expectations, and 3 months to embrace routines and increase exposure to new places. Help ease the transition with a few easy preparation tips.

Understand your rescue dog’s background

It’s a great idea to get as much information as you can about your rescue dog from the shelter you’re adopting them from. Learn about their past experiences, potential phobias, health issues, and so on so that you can better understand their current behavioral quirks. 

Be sure to brush up on the common signs of fear and aggression in dogs. It’s important to understand what your new dog is trying to communicate with you through its body language and barking. Always be patient when you’re getting to know each other–if your dog could speak human languages, it would probably make things easier!

Make your home a safe space

Every dog should have a safe, quiet space where they can go when they feel overwhelmed or overstimulated. Crate training is a great way to establish such a space while also being an effective training tool. Don’t forget to add plenty of comfortable blankets, cushions, and toys depending on their preferences. 

Consistency can also help your dog feel safe and secure. Establish a routine as soon as possible; regular walking, feeding, playtime, and quiet time will give your dog a sense of belonging and stability.

Bond with your dog

You and your dog will ease into your relationship–don’t try to rush it at first! Be gentle, patient, and use lots of positive reinforcement to let them know they’re in a safe space. Giving your dog healthy, high-value treats will ensure they look forward to spending time with you.

Training is an excellent bonding activity as it establishes clear communication between you and your canine friend. By giving them clear commands, they’ll learn to read you better and be more confident in their interactions with you. 

And of course, give your dog lots of opportunities for play and both physical and mental exercise. Exercise and mental stimulation help keep your dog healthy, give them the chance to burn off extra energy, and they’re lots of fun!

Consult with your veterinarian

The professionals are here to help you successfully integrate your new dog into your family. You should establish your new dog with your veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure they’re up to date on vaccinations and any health issues are properly managed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about behavior, acclimation, training, and whatever else is on your mind. 

Plenty of reputable dog training classes are available around Central Florida. Your veterinarian may even be able to give you a trusted recommendation of their own.

The Right Rescue Dog is Waiting For You

The most important thing to keep in mind when you bring home a rescue dog: patience. Your rescue dog has been through a lot; give them patience and be gentle as they get used to their new surroundings and learn how to fit in with your family. 

Make training fun and exciting with all-natural treats, like Pawsitively Pure’s Blueberry and Oat treats or Chicken Crisps. Head over to our online store to shop now!

If you’ve ever trained a dog (and we hope you’ve spent some time training your own fur babies!) you’ve definitely encountered the term “positive reinforcement.” In simple terms, positive reinforcement is the act of rewarding good behavior with positive feedback, i.e. giving your dog a treat after he performs a trick. But why is it that this technique is so important and so highly praised by pet psychologists and trainers?

Of course, there’s the obvious answer: you love your dog, and your dog loves you too! It’s a much happier situation for everyone when you reward good behavior versus punishing bad behavior. But the importance of positive reinforcement in training goes deeper than that. Here are just a few reasons why this technique is the way to go for your training needs:

Positive Reinforcement Fosters Confidence

It may seem like just a human trait, but confidence is so important for dogs! Self-confidence affects every aspect of your dog’s life, from interacting with other dogs and humans to performing tasks correctly when under pressure. Dogs who are frequently punished rather than praised are often unsure of how to behave in specific situations and may display fear in their everyday interactions, which can lead to even more problems down the line.

Positivity Makes Training a Treat in Itself

If your dog knows that he’s going to get a lot of tasty treats during training time, he’s going to look forward to his training sessions! Giving your dog appropriate rewards can encourage them to view these sessions as times they enjoy rather than dread. Again, this goes back to building confidence. Just like a child who’s encouraged in school looks forward to their studies, your dog will be a willing participant when you set aside time to learn a new trick.

Positive Reinforcement is Fun for the Whole Family

Positive reinforcement can be administered by anyone in your house! This is great if you have young children in the house, as it gives them the opportunity to give your dog a treat or a belly rub when they see him performing good behaviors. When your dog notices praise coming from several different sources, they can take on whatever challenges face them with calmness and--you guessed it--confidence.

Positive reinforcement can come in many forms, like head pets, belly rubs, or tasty treats. If you rely mostly on treats for rewards, make sure you’re giving your dog something healthy, wholesome, and free from fillers. We humbly recommend Pawsitively Pure gourmet gluten-free treats or our new Chicken Crisps! Browse through our website to learn more, or give us a call at 407-450-6151 today.

To say that lots of aspects of our lives have changed during quarantine would be the biggest understatement of 2020. For months, school students learned at home instead of going to their campuses, and many workers transitioned to working from home, as well. Of course, our dogs appreciate all of the extra time and attention we can spend on them while we’re cooped up at home, but you may have noticed that this extra attention has developed into a problem: separation anxiety.

What is separation anxiety? It’s your pet’s feelings of distress when his or her owner isn’t home, according to the New York Times. If you’ve ever returned home to a torn-up couch cushion or noticed that your dog excessively “marks his territory” when you’re not around, you’re probably seeing the signs of separation anxiety firsthand. But one of the reasons why it’s so hard to correct is because these behaviors occur when you’re not around. 

Here are a few things to try to help your dog regain confidence when you head back to work or school:

Give your dog puzzle toys and “active” toys

Toys that give your dog a challenge, like Kong toys, help keep your dog occupied in a positive pursuit while you’re away. As you may have heard in your last training session, dogs are at their best behavior when they have a “job” to carry out. So if your dog’s job is to free the tasty treats from their Kong toy, they’ll be less likely to chew on other things in the house. 

Take brief breaks outside by yourself

Your dog is probably excited about all the extra walks you’ve been taking together, but now they expect to go on a walk every time you leave. Allow them to get used to being by themselves in small increments by taking 15-minute breaks outside while they stay in the house. This helps your dogs understand that you’re not leaving forever when you walk away. Gradually increase the length of time you spend outside the house until you know they’ll be comfortable with a full work day alone.

Fill your dog’s space with soothing items, and try calming aids

Changes in routine can be stressful for everyone--animals and humans alike! Calming aids like pheromone sprays and chewables can help your dog relax instead of giving into their anxieties. Additionally, leave a few well-worn articles of your clothing in their sleeping and napping spaces so they’ll be soothed by your scent all day.

Quarantine has been hard on everyone, including our dogs! They deserve a treat. Browse our shop to order delicious, wholesome, gluten-free treats in a handful of craveable flavors. Give us a call to learn more!

We’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But here at Pawsitively Pure dog food, we believe that any dog can learn a new trick with the right incentive! Soft enough to break into small chunks and packed with the best nutritious ingredients, our human-grade dog treats are the perfect reward for a learning dog. Even our senior boy, Jackson, has learned a few new ones in recent years!

To celebrate the return of the school year, here are a few fun and easy tricks you can teach any dog, no matter what stage of life they’re in: 

• “Shake Hands” may look like an advanced trick, but it’s one of the easiest there is to teach a dog! Dogs will naturally paw at you if you’re holding something they’re curious about. If you tuck a treat in your closed fist, hold it toward your dog and say the command word, “shake!” When they reach to paw at you, reward them for their response.

• Many people shy away from teaching their dogs “speak” since they probably already bark enough. However, putting “speak” and “quiet” to commands is one of the easiest ways to combat excessive barking. This one does take a little bit of vigilance, as you’ll need to pay attention to the times when your dog is barking and reward them systematically for following your commands.

• “Spin” is another great trick for a treat-motivated dog. When you hold a treat right in front of your dog’s nose, they’re likely to follow it. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose to guide him in a circle, then repeat the pattern. As your dog gets more familiar with the movement, you may even be able to teach them to “spin left” and “spin right!”

Pawsitively Pure Dog Food’s treats are perfect for training dogs of all ages and sizes. Available in peanut butter & pumpkin and blueberry & oat, our flavors are craveable enough that your dogs will look forward to learning new tricks every day. Send us a message or browse through our shop to learn more!