Train and Simple Dog Behaviour Consulting

10/20/2026

Trick, or treat? Are you lying to your dog without even realizing?

1. Trick or treat: Training with non-food or “life” rewards

🎃🍬 Treat! If your dog’s happy to do a little work to access an activity, it might still be a fair reward for that kind of work. Be sure to find evidence that they are trying to access the activity, and not just escape their current situation!

2. Trick or treat: Using high-value rewards for training

🎃🤡 It depends! “High value” is usually code for rich and fatty, or an offer your dog just can’t refuse. This can make desperation look a little too much like enthusiasm. It can also cause problems with their tummies. Vets say that up to 10% of a dog’s daily calories can come from treats other than their balanced food.

3. Trick or treat: Mixing stinky snacks with regular kibble

🎃🍭 Treat! Puppy-dog trail mix can be a safe way to make their balanced food a little more exciting for training, while keeping it safer for their tummies.

4. Trick or treat: Using food to distract from scary stuff

🎃👻 Trick! If the trick works, it might be just fine. If it doesn’t, it will backfire. You might never get another chance to try, now that your dog knows that setup is a trap!

Ok… hold on. If you’re mad about this next one, you should sign up for a Social Club membership so we can really dive into the topic. I’ll have a webinar on exactly this on November 15 and 1 PM ADT. It’s just for Social Club members, and registration closes October 31, so sign up now!

Ok, drumroll…

5. Trick or treat: Focusing on food in husbandry
Trick! But this one is mostly just a trick your dog learned to do, not one you’re playing on them. Just don’t confuse participation for choice or enthusiasm.

Your dog’s motivation to “opt in” is based on how much they need the food, how many other ways they can access it, and whether participating is a reliable way to end the task. It’s not as simple as “opting in.”

What do you think? Spooky, scary, silly? Let me know in the comments and follow for more thinkers about dog training habits!!

Slides show the caption text with cartoon Rory.

10/18/2026

“Positive reinforcement doesn’t work for every dog.”

Well, not with that attitude!

The Train + Simple membership community’s first monthly webinar, “First Action, Then Food,” will be held on Sunday, October 18 at 1 PM ADT (16:00 UTC; 12 noon Eastern).

This webinar will be recorded for members, BUT registration for Train + Simple Social Club closes October 31, 2026!

If you want to access this and other learning resources and lock in a low, low price of $39 CAD (~$28 USD) per month, you’ll need to register before the end of October. After that, registration will be closed for a while, and these prices will be gone forever.

Membership is also available on yearly and one-time billing schedules.

Check out the link in my bio to learn more. Hope to see you there!

10/14/2026

Be kind and choose cooperative care! One of the kindest things you can do for your dog is to help them feel good about their gear. If that feels daunting, don’t worry. The best way to get started is super simple!

This is going to sound *too* simple, but the biggest mistake you can make in dog training is conflating “simple” with “stupid.” Centuries of philosophy and science bear out: the simplest answer is usually the correct one.

The simplest answer for dogs who don’t like their gear is to pair that gear with a good outcome! Dogs learn very quickly when their harness or leash predicts yummy treats.

If this isn’t enough to get you started on the right track, your dog may need veterinary support. Conditions that cause upset tummies, pain, anxiety, or itchy skin can make training harder than it needs to be.

Uncomfortable conditions are usually treatable. Get your dog some relief and you may find success is easier to achieve!

Steps in video:

1. Show your dog the gear; pause for 2 seconds
2. Reach for your cookies
3. Deliver cookies for a long stretch of time; about 10 seconds
4. Put away the gear
5. Stop dropping cookies

It’s really that simple, so don’t try to complicate it by asking your dog for a specific behaviour.

Practice a couple times each week, and pay them generously every time you *need* to use their gear.

10/11/2026

10/04/2026

This could be the difference between seeing your dog’s pain and helping them feel better ⬇️

1. Telling your vet that your dog seems painful is fine – but what do you see that’s not right?

2. Telling your vet what you see that concerns you is good – but when did it seem to start?

3. Telling your vet when the sign first showed up is great – but which activities make it worse?

4. Telling your vet what seems to hurt your dog is fantastic – but how does that limit their life?

Feeling lost? I made a free pain mini course and activity + behaviour tracker to help.

Grab yours at the link in my bio.

[Images show the text above spread over matching light blue slides with a cartoon Rory the terrier on them.]