TRAINING YOUR DOG WITH BOUNCE AND BELLA TREATS

At Bounce and Bella, we're big supporters of reward-based training. Training dogs
with treats is a fantastic way of seeing notable behavioural changes over both the
short-term and long-term. You can get your dog to perform all types of commands
using reward-based training, as well as reinforce good behaviour such as going to
the toilet outside and not growling at visitors. Reward-based training can see you
using all types of rewards, although tasty food bites are a popular method as most
dogs won't say no to a delicious little treat.

Our Bounce and Bella dog training treats are small, crunchy, sugar-free and grain-
free. They are made with 80% fresh poultry meat and then 20% potatoes and gravy, so
you and your dog can use a lot of our treats without worrying about over-feeding.
There's no nasty junk food or fillers included - only the best ingredients. This is
obviously important when giving lots of treats to your dog during training. We have
800 treats per pack, giving you plenty to use - and they're all bite-sized chunks
that your dog can easily swallow while training.

WHAT IS REWARD-BASED DOG TRAINING?

At Bounce and Bella, we strongly believe that dogs ought to be trained using
specially created reward-based programmes that help to facilitate the creation and
maintenance of approved behaviours. Because these are created with the help of
natural treats, it means the dogs are being trained simply through utilising their
natural instincts and positive reinforcement.

The positive outcome of reward-based training methods is that your dog is able to
easily succeed in the command you are asking of them, and then gets rewarded when
they perform this good behaviour. When this is done consistently, the dog continues
to show these behaviours and will be trained appropriately. They will eventually be
able to perform the actions without needing to be reinforced with treats.

For dogs, reward-based training is an enjoyable experience and helps to enhance

your relationship with your pet in a positive way. You can train your dog using
positive reinforcement in a number of ways, from using food treats, a favourite
soft toy, or verbal encouragement such as "well done!" while using a pleasant
voice. This should only be done when the dog is exhibiting good behaviour though,
otherwise it will lead them to get mixed messages.

Any unwanted behaviours should be ignored. This means that the 'naughty' traits are
not being rewarded, and they are not getting any attention or treats. If the
ignoring of bad behaviours is done every time your dog does something wrong, then
they will typically stop doing it. 

Many dog training experts support reward-based training as the best way of getting
your dog to show good behaviour. As the RSPCA notes, "reward-based training is the
most humane and effective way of training dogs and addressing any unwanted
behaviours. Reward-based training does not involve aversive techniques, physical
punishment or the assertion of dominance over the dog."

WHY DOES REWARD TRAINING WORK?

Reward training works because it specifically focuses on reinforcing good
behaviour. It helps your dog understand through non-verbal and verbal communication
what you expect of them, and gives them clear boundaries on which behaviour you
would like to see more of. It can ensure they easily understand the difference
between the two, and are able to connect words that you are saying with actions
that they can perform.

Reward training takes time and patience and won't happen overnight. All dogs train
differently and some may get the hang of it quicker than others. It can come down
to many factors including how energetic they are, how old the dog is, what
experience they've had before coming to you, the type of owner, whether they feel
respect and love to their owner, what training they have already had, and so forth.
EXAMPLES OF POSITIVE DOG TRAINING
Does your dog regularly jump up to greet people? You may have started off trying to
push him down and stopping the jump from happening; but this potentially won't have
worked and your dog will still be jumping up. During reward-based training, if the
dog misbehaves then they should be ignored. The only time he should get any
attention or eye contact is once he has all four paws placed on the floor. At this
point, while sitting or standing, you should then reward your dog with attention
and treats. This will help to reinforce that what they're doing is desired.

You should reward your dog with a tasty food treat - something that they really
like. It should be just like chocolate is to humans - a reward we enjoy having
whenever possible. You can start to reward your dog as soon as they have put all
four paws onto the ground. You may find that they try to jump again, although may
put a little less effort into it. Once again, it's about ignoring them when they
conduct behaviour you don't approve of. 

However, as soon as they have all four paws back on the ground, you should once
again reward them. Your dog will soon realise that you are rewarding them when
they're not jumping and that you prefer it when they're sitting or standing. As
such, they will start to show this behaviour more often. They will then start to
volunteer this behaviour more often in anticipation of a treat.

COMMON BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS

A well-behaved dog is a pleasure to have around, although it is often very much
dependent on the owner being able to train them effectively and reinforce good
behaviour. There are some common behavioural problems that reward-based training
will help to overcome. 

This includes dogs who drag their owners along when walking, dogs who won't come
back after being called, and dogs who jump up when greeting new people. With
reward-based training you can help stop your dog jumping up, stop your dog from
pulling on the leash, stop your dog from running away and stop your dog from
snatching. 

Dogs are very fast learners, and can easily adapt. They learn from their owners and
use their behaviour as a way of showing their respect. However, this does rely on
the owner to take action themselves. Don't rush the process - it can take time, but
it is worth it eventually. You will need to be patient with your dog and train them
slowly, step-by-step. If you have more than one dog, you may also find that they
influence each other, so training them separately may help. If one dog doesn't
behave appropriately, it can lead your other dog astray.

ESSENTIAL TRAINING COMMANDS

There are a few key training commands. These are the best ones to get under your
belt to ensure your dog's behaviour improves.

SITTING
Getting your dog to sit is one of the easiest commands to start teaching your dog
how to be obedient. It's one of the best ones to start with. To begin, hold one of
our Bounce and Bella treats close to your dog's nose. Move your hand upwards to
allow your dog's head to follow the treat. This will make his bottom lower to the
ground. 

When he is in the seated position, say "sit" and then given your dog the treat. You
should also support this with affection such as head tickles. You should continue
to repeat this sequence several times a day until your dog has got it mastered. 

You should then start doing this at points where you would like your dog to be
seated, such as before a meal time, when you are going for walks, and in any other
situations in which you would like him to remain calm and seated.

COME
This command can be particularly beneficial for keeping your dog out of trouble as
it will ensure they come running back as soon as you call out. It can be useful if
they are not on their lead and you want them to come back or if you accidentally
leave a door open and they run out.

In order to train your dog effectively, start off by putting them on a leash and
collar. Then go down to his level and say "come" at the same time as gently tugging
on the leash. When he reaches you, reward him with a Bounce and Bella treat and
some affection. Once this has been mastered, you can then remove the leash. You'll
need to keep practicing in a safe, enclosed area - but your dog will soon have this
skill under his belt for when you are out and about. 

DOWN
If your dog is particularly jumpy or dominant, this can be a difficult command to
train your dog with. This is because for your dog, it is considered to be a
submissive position. You can help them to overcome this fear by keeping your
training positive and informal. 

Start off by holding a Bounce and Bella treat in your closed fist. You should then
hold your hand up to your dog's nose. Once he has smelt it and knows it is there,
move your hand towards the floor. His head should follow too. 

You should then slide your hand along the ground right in front of your dog. This
will encourage his body to also follow his head. When he is in the right position,
say "down" and, at the same time, give your dog his delicious Bounce and Bella
treat. This should be reinforced with strokes and cuddles.

You will need to repeat this command every day, reinforcing it with treats. If your
dog tries to lunge toward your hand or sit up, simply say "no" and remove your
hand. Don't give your dog the treat unless he is doing exactly what you require.
You shouldn't push him into a down position - it is important to encourage your dog
to find this position for himself. He'll be working hard to figure out what it is
you want, so be patient with him. 

STAY
Once your dog has mastered the "sit" command, you can then have a go at teaching
them how to stay. Firstly, you need to ask your dog to sit. Once he is in the right
position, open your hand so your palm is flat in front of you and visible to your
dog and say "stay". Try to have some authority in your voice with a clear tone.
Then take a few steps back.

If your dog stays, you can then reward him with a Bounce and Bella treat and some
affection. Keep doing this, gradually increasing how many steps back you take
before giving the treat. You should always reward your dog for staying in his
position, even if it only lasts a short while.

As your dog will be learning how to exercise self-control, this command may take a
little more work than others. It can be especially hard for high energy dogs and
puppies who just want to be on the go all the time and aren't used to sitting still
on demand.

LEAVE IT
You can use this command to help keep your dog safe when they find themselves
swayed by curiosity. They may find something smells good on the ground that you can
see is dangerous (or may even be something you'd rather they avoided - like fox
poo!). The goal is for you to teach your dog that there will be a better reward
available if he ignores the other item.

To train your dog for this command, hold a Bounce and Bella treat in both of your
hands. Show your dog one enclosed fist with a treat inside and say "leave it". Let
your dog try to lick, sniff, paw, mouth and woof to try and get to your treat. You
should ignore these behaviours. 

When your dog stops trying, you should then give him the treat that you're holding
in your other hand. You will need to keep repeating this until your dog gets to the
point that he moves away from your first fist at the point that you say "leave
it". 

Once you have mastered this, you should then only give your dog the second treat at
the point that he starts moving away from the first fist and also looks up at you
at the same time. Keep practising this, ensuring there is eye contact each time. 

You're then ready to go to the next level. Here you will need to use two different
types of treats - one that is so-so and the other that is a tasty and good smelling
favourite for your dog. To start off, say "leave it", place the less favourable
treat on the ground and then cover it over with your hand. 

When your dog ignores the treat and looks at you, remove this treat from the floor
and give your dog their preferred treat. You should also reinforce this with
immediate affection. Keep repeating this training until he has got the hang of it.
You can then start doing the same thing but without completely covering the first
treat with your hand. Instead, hold your hand a little bit higher above the treat.
Over time, keep gradually moving your hand further back until it gets to around 6-
inches above the treat.

You can then practice this same command but with you standing up. Keep doing the
same steps but if your dog tries to take the less favourable treat, just cover it
quickly with your foot. Don't try to rush any of this. Your dog needs time to get
the hang of what is being asked of him. If he seems to be struggling with any parts
of it, simply go back a stage and try again.

MYTHS DE-BUNKED
A lot of people worry that reward-based training will cause their dog to gain
weight by having so many treats. While this can potentially happen with some types
of rewards, it definitely won't happen if you are using our training treats from
Bounce and Bella. 

We don't have any grains in our treats, which means your dog won't become full or
suffer from digestive issues. We also only put the best ingredients in them and no
filler, meaning they're not packed with junk.

We also ensure that our training treats can be used effectively during training.
You'll be able to give your dog several of our treats each time, without worrying
about them eating too much. They're also super delicious, meaning your dog will
want to get their hands on them whenever you're training. You don't need to worry
about them becoming addicted though; there's nothing but wholesome, good
ingredients in our training treats. 
WHY CHOOSE BOUNCE AND BELLA TRAINING TREATS?
There are lots of key reasons why you should choose Bounce and Bella training
treats for your dog. Firstly, they are top quality and tasty but without a high
price tag. Our premium dog treats don't break the bank, meaning you can keep buying
them time and again. 

They only contain freshly prepared duck, chicken and turkey meat, which makes up
80% of the ingredients, as well as potatoes and chicken gravy, which make up 20%.
This is a healthier recipe for your dog or puppy, which also means their happiness
will be guaranteed.

As our grain-free training treats are small, you don't need to worry about over-
feeding your dog, big or small, when reward-training. There are approximately 800
treats in a 500g bag, giving you plenty to use when training your dog or puppy. You
can concentrate on effectively training without worrying about whether you need to
be monitoring their diet too. Every time you train them, you should expect to use
between 5 and 10 treats depending on what you're asking them to do and how large
your dog is.

There are only five ingredients in our products - and nothing else added. That
means no additives, no flavourings, no preservatives, no grains or gluten, and
absolutely no sugars. That's everything you and your dog could ever wish for. We
don't put any of the typical ingredients in that bulk food up cheaply because we
wouldn't want your dogs to be eating foods we wouldn't be happy with ourselves.
Only the best for your pooches. You can rest easy knowing you are buying the best
for your dog, and not packing them up with junk-filled treats.

Our treats are not only filled with good ingredients but they're also a great
source of vitamins too. The Bounce and Bella training treats contain vitamins A and
D3 which help your dog with their eye health, immune system functioning, bone
growth and development, and calcium absorption. You can help to keep your dog happy
and healthy while training.

The fact our treats don't contain gluten is pretty important. Unlike other training
treats, we don't reward dogs with cheap grains. As you may already know, dogs are
not able to fully digest grains. This means they can end up with tummy pain, and
this can inhibit their ability to train effectively with treats. Our treats are
grain-free, which helps their digestion. It also means they have a shinier coat,
more energy, less shedding, less weight-gain, healthier skin, better breath, and
less costly trips are required to the vets.

Copyright 2018 Bounce and Bella