If there is one thing a dog will respond to with enthusiasm, it's food. So it isn't surprising that many dog owners employ treats to "encourage" pets to perform desired behaviors.

But is treat training a mistake? Are we simply bribing our pet into obedience? What happens to that training when a treat isn't available?

Just one tool
Most professional trainers agree that treats can compromise the training process if they are used incorrectly or as the sole reward for following commands.

But, treats can also be an excellent behavior modification tool. Properly used, they can help motivate a dog to learn a range of behaviors - from basic obedience to complex agility skills.

However, treat training should be viewed as just one component of a training program. It's important that your dog learn to obey your commands - even without reward.

"If you have a dog who is motivated by treats, they can be a strong reinforcer," says Roy Spitalnik, a professional trainer for six years. Spitalnik encourages his clients at Best Friends Norwalk, CT Pet Resort to use treats in the early stages of puppy training as a positive reinforcer.

Most trainers insist that you supplement the treat with strong praise. "It's important that your dog knows that you are happy with him for responding correctly to your command," he explains. "Otherwise, he will learn that obedience is solely about being paid a treat."

Repetition and consistency
Dogs learn through repetition. It's important to practice the same command over several times each day, rewarding your pet with a treat and praise each time.

With repetition, your dog will gradually begin to associate the command with the behavior and the reward. Once that has happened , you can wean your dog off the treats. Spitalnik recommends doing this gradually, not cold turkey. Begin by skipping the treat and offering only praise as reward once out of every five repetitions. Then once in four, once in three and so on, until you are rewarding him with praise alone.

Remember that for this weaning process to be effective, you must have been offering warm praise to your pet throughout the early training stages. If you suddenly introduce praise in place of treats, your dog won't make the association.

Used responsibly, treats can be an excellent tool in your dog's training program. For assistance with treat training and other motivational training techniques, consult a professional dog trainer. To find a qualified trainer, contact the Best Friends Center near you.

Training your cat with treats
Treats can be used effectively with cats as a behavior modification tool. You can employ treats to teach your cat basic commands like "sit", "down" and "come" - or even tricks like jumping over a stick or through a hoop.

It's important to determine which treat your cat likes the best and will work best as a "lure" to draw your cat into a particular behavior. Treats will work best when a cat is hungry, so schedule your training sessions before rather than after a meal. Otherwise, treat training for cats is very similar to the technique used with dogs.

For more on cat training, check out the Feline Library at http://www.animalnetwork.com/cats/library/librarylst.asp