How to Train Your Dog When Feeding a Raw Diet

golden retriever with treats lined up on its nose
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If you’re feeding your dog a raw diet, you invest too much in keeping them healthy to feed them junk food, even for the sake of training them… and with our creative tips, you won’t have to!

Activities & Exercises

Since training is always happening, it’s important to know what things can be easily implemented into your daily routine – and not stress about when you’re going to find a large chunk of dedicated training time!

Instead of feeding your dog the entire day’s serving of food during mealtimes, use one or both mealtimes as a training/enrichment opportunity. 

white dog looking at hand holding dog treats

Steve’s Real Food has plenty of products you can utilize as high-value treats/rewards while training:

  • Protein Bites: Irresistibly tasty freeze-dried treats that incorporate the power of fermentation to support gut health.
  • Frozen Raw: Cut up our patties into small pieces or use our frozen nuggets for less hassle.
  • Freeze-Dried Raw: Tater-tot sized nuggets are easy to use as treats.
  • Quest Cat Food: Yes, it’s a complete and balanced cat food diet – but these bite-sized nuggets are the perfect smaller size to use as training treats!

If you don’t have time to actively work your dog’s brain, let them do it themselves!

You can squish their food into a lick mat, a food-dispensing toy, or a safe bone and they can learn some independence as well (which is equally important to teach them). Plus, you can buy yourself even more time if you freeze it first!

flower shaped dog feeding mat with raw food

Learn What and How to Train

Even more important than what we use for training, is when we are training… and because we believe it’s a lifestyle, we encourage pet parents to use the things your dog wants throughout the day to teach them the things that you want from your dog.

Don’t just give them a treat because they’re cute… have them do something for it! 

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Have them sit before giving them anything
  • Make them wait to be released for their food
  • Call your dog to you for a treat
  • Give them a piece of their food every time they go into their crate
  • They have to stop jumping up to get the ball before you throw it
  • The fun stops if teeth are felt on your skin

No matter what you’re doing, whether it be socializing your puppy during that stage in their development (8-16 weeks), teaching them obedience, or reinforcing good manners, nothing will help you reach your goals faster than being consistent with them.

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