Training with multiple dogs at a time requires a whole new set of skills compared to working one-on-one! Adding in Big Feelings about resources can be a whole other can of worms. Name That Treat! is an exercise that’s designed to help reduce negative feelings, improve calm behavior around food, and generally reduce the chaos associated when you’re training more than one dog at a time.
When your dog is fluent in “Name That Treat” they understand that attempting to “steal” a treat from another dog is not worth the effort, and that they will get paid much more quickly for simply waiting their turn. Dogs fluent in this will ignore treats handed to other dogs, even dogs they’re sitting right next to.
How to Play
What you’ll need: your dogs, treats, a quiet non-distracting environment, a barrier (optional), a helper (optional)
What your dog needs to know before playing: a sit, down, or other stationary behavior; calmness behind a barrier
- Start with one dog at a time. Stand with your dog in front of you. Say your dog’s name, then hand them a treat.
- Bring out both dogs, ask them to sit. Reward them both at the same time.
- When they are sitting calmly, start rewarding one at a time. Before rewarding each dog, say their name so they know the treat is theirs. Take turns and alternate each time!
Struggling a bit? Make things easier by splitting this into smaller pieces! Here are some ways to help your dogs learn this skill in smaller steps:
- Use two handlers – one per dog. Start naming and treating at the same time, then start taking turns. Once your dogs are successful, have one person occasionally treat the other person’s dog.
- Use a barrier between the dogs to prevent treat theft.
- Be specific with the behavior you want from the dog who isn’t receiving a treat – giving clear instructions for how to get their treat and focusing on what you want them to do instead of what not to do can help them out.
- Use lower value treats if your pups are too amped.
Maintaining Your Skills
Once your dogs understand that a named treat only goes to the dog who was named, they can much more easily focus on their own behavior rather than worrying about the other dogs getting rewards. Maintaining this skill is as simple as staying consistent with it when you use it! The biggest rule that you should follow is: if you name a treat, follow through!
