Episode #147 Unleashing the Power of Food Scatters in Dog Training

Ready to ignite a new spark in your dog training sessions? Brace yourself for an exciting revelation about food scatters, a simple yet potent positive reinforcement technique. This episode is all about how you can harness the power of food scatters to boost your dog's motivation, focus, and mental acuity. Forget about the frustration of trying to divert your dog's attention away from triggers like doorbells or passersby. With food scatters, you can create new, appealing patterns that will transform your furry friend's behavior for the better.

Experience is the best teacher, and we're delighted to share ours with you. We'll talk about how food scatters can strengthen your bond with your four-legged pal and amp up their problem-solving skills.  So come, take a leap, and experiment with food scatters in your training sessions this week. Trust us, it's a game-changer!

In this episode, we also extend an invitation to you to join our free class, Intro to Puppy Training, conducted every first Saturday of the month. It's a must for anyone who's welcomed a new canine companion into their home and wants to learn the ropes of training. Visit our site to register. 

Chapters

• 0:00 Food Scatters for Dog Training Benefits
• 8:21 Effective Dog Training Technique

Transcript

Why use food scatters?

Food scatters for dog training have become increasingly popular in recent years as a positive reinforcement technique. This method involves scattering small food treats on the ground to encourage dogs to use their natural instincts and engage in active problem-solving. Today I want to explore the benefits of using food scatters for dog training, provide examples of how this technique can be effective, and discuss why it is a valuable tool for both trainers and pet families.

Food scatters for dog training involve scattering small food treats on the ground to encourage dogs to engage in active problem-solving. This positive reinforcement technique has gained popularity due to its effectiveness in training dogs and promoting their mental stimulation. By rewarding dogs with food, trainers can reinforce desired behaviors and create a positive association with training sessions.

1. Increased Motivation and Focus:

Food scatters provide dogs with a strong motivation to participate in training sessions. The scent of the food treats stimulates their natural instincts, making them more attentive and focused on the task at hand. For example, when teaching a dog to come when called, scattering treats in a designated area can encourage the dog to run towards the trainer, associating the recall cue with a positive reward. 

When we want to divert attention or focus away from something, food scatters are also beneficial. For example, if a person approaches our dog and the dog tends to get excited, we can scatter food in the grass or carpet to create a fun go sniff game for our dog, helping them keep their paws on the floor and their brains busy on an activity. Depending on the excitement level of your dog, you may need to also create distance in this exercise to set your dog up for success. We are happy to coach you through this via our video one-on-one sessions inside our membership area of BAXTER & Bella. 

Doorbells and knocks on the door are often triggers for dogs to get excited. Food scatters can help create new more desirable patterns in our dog’s behaviors when it comes to things like this. Sniffing is a natural way to help a dog calm down so food scatters help in that way - getting the dog to use their sense of smell to help them settle down around exciting things, people or events. Dogs learn the pattern of doorbell trigger, food scatter is coming and they turn their attention away from the door and onto finding the food scattered about the floor or ground.

2. Mental Stimulation:

Food scatters require dogs to use their problem-solving skills, which helps to keep their minds active and engaged. Dogs have to search for the scattered treats, stimulating their sense of smell and encouraging them to explore their surroundings. This mental stimulation is particularly beneficial for high-energy breeds or dogs with behavioral issues. For instance, a dog with separation anxiety can be distracted and mentally stimulated by searching for scattered treats before their person leaves the house. 

Dogs love having a job to do - they want to work and sniffing is a job they are rewarded well for. Use the fact that your dog loves to sniff to mentally exercise them. Dogs who are well-exercised do better at settling throughout the day. Remember dogs need more than just physical stimulation. The mental aspect of exercise is super valuable as well. That is why we promote training your dog. Not only is it good for your bond and building a relationship, but it provides mental exercise too. 

3. Reinforcement of Desired Behaviors:

Food scatters serve as a powerful tool for reinforcing desired behaviors. By rewarding dogs with food treats immediately after they perform a desired action, trainers can strengthen the association between the behavior and the reward. For example, when teaching a dog to sit, scattering treats on the ground after they successfully sit reinforces the behavior and encourages them to repeat it in the future. 

While it is absolutely okay to hand deliver rewards, food scatters offer another option. We find when working with families who have children in the home, food scatters are wonderful ways to reward the dog as it prevents teeth, slobber or dog tongues from touching the children. If you have a child who is cautious about a dog’s mouth touching them, show them how to use a food scatter to reward the dog. 

Food scatters for dog training offer numerous benefits, including increased motivation and focus, mental stimulation, and reinforcement of desired behaviors. This positive reinforcement technique has proven to be effective in training dogs and promoting their overall well-being. By incorporating food scatters into training sessions, trainers and pet handlers can create a positive association with training, enhance their dog's problem-solving skills, and strengthen the bond between them. As such, food scatters are a valuable tool for anyone looking to train their dog in a positive and rewarding manner.