Treat Delivery: Taking the Food to Your Puppy
How you hand over a treat teaches your puppy a habit. If you hold food out in front of or above your puppy, they learn to lunge and snap at your hand to get it. Instead, take the treat straight to your puppy's mouth, just under the chin, so they can stay in position and take it gently. This builds a patient, calm dog and makes every exercise you do later much easier.
Why it matters
- Offering food just out of reach teaches your puppy to move towards your hand and help themselves.
- At this age that can look like cute snapping, but it's where older dogs end up grabbing, snatching and catching hands. This can be rough in very food-motivated dogs.
- When the food always comes to your puppy, they learn they don't have to go to the food. You end up with a dog that waits patiently for it.
- It's a foundation for training. Your puppy won't be launching at you, so other exercises go more smoothly.
- It prepares you for luring (your puppy following food on their nose like a little magnet). Teach treat delivery first and luring after, in its own module.
What you'll need
- Small, soft treats, or a treat pot if you prefer
- Your puppy in a sit (they can also practise standing)
Step by step
- Ask your puppy to sit and wait for a moment of stillness. Don't offer food while they're jumping or lunging.
- Hold the treat in your hand and take it directly to your puppy's mouth, going very slightly under the chin so they can take it out gently.
- Let them take it from your hand without moving out of the sit. They shouldn't have to stretch, jump or step forward.
- Repeat several times in the same position. In the video, I feed about three treats in a row while Winnie holds the sit.
- Release your puppy from the position for a moment, then ask for the sit again and repeat.
- Lower the treat or pot gradually. This shows your puppy they don't need to come towards it to get the food.
- Practise in different positions, such as sitting and standing.
What to look for
- Your puppy stays in position while the food arrives.
- They take the treat softly.
- They wait calmly, with no jumping, snapping or launching at the food.
Common mistakes
- Holding the treat between your fingers, too high or too far in front
- Making your puppy come to your hand for the food
- Feeding while your puppy is jumping up or snapping
- Rushing into luring before treat delivery is solid
Practice plan
Whenever you feed a treat, check how you're delivering it. Go to your puppy's mouth calmly, keep the food low, and let them take it gently. Short, frequent practice in different positions works best.
