 
Dog treats are a great incentive to help with training commands. But before you go out and purchase the cheapest treat on the shelf, remember a few things. First, select a treat that is easy to eat and small in size. During training your dog will receive a lot of treats so you want something that will not distract them very long and will not make them full or overweight. If the dog treats you purchase are larger, we recommend cutting them to an appropriate size. The idea is to give them a taste, not a meal.
Second, soft treats are usually better than biscuits for training. They are easier for the dog to eat and can be cut into smaller pieces. Lastly, find a high-quality, healthy treat. Many commercial treats contain additives, fillers and high fat content. Treats should contain non-processed protein sources and serve as a supplement to the dog’s regular diet.
When used for training, the treat is only a tool to help keep the dog’s attention. It is not the goal to train rewarded behavior, so after time the dog will need to be waned from the treats and rewarded with praise. When learning new commands, the treat helps to direct attention to hand movements that your dog will associate with a particular behavior and vocal commands. At the final stage of training you will remove the hand gestures and rely on words only.
Every time your dog responds positively to a command, she should be rewarded with a treat and praise. If you reward at the wrong time or wait too long your dog may not understand what the reward is for, so it is important to reward immediately after your dog performs.
“Sit” – To teach the sit command hold a treat directly above your dog's nose and say “sit.” If your dog does not sit right away, slowly move the treat away from you (over the dog's head) so your dog has to sit to see the treat. If necessary push down on the area above your dog’s hind legs until they sit. Reward with the treat and “good sit” to reinforce the verbal command.
“Down” – Once you have your dog in a sit position, do not provide the treat right away. Instead, bring the treat past the front of his nose and to the floor and say “down.” As your dog moves down towards the treat, bring the treat along the floor towards you so he has to lie down to get the treat. Once your dog is down, reward with the treat and “good down.”
“Come” – Begin teaching this command while your dog is on a leash. Hold a treat in your hand and say “come.” When she comes to you, have her sit using the sit command and reward with the treat and praise. Keep practicing with a leash until she understands the command reward behavior and then try indoors without the leash. After she masters this you can try in your yard.
“Stay” – In sit position, use an open hand in front of your dog’s nose while saying “stay.” Take a couple steps back and if your dog stays, provide the reward. This command will take some practice. But whatever you do, only provide the reward when your dog stays. If he does not, put him back in sit position and try again. Once your dog will stay, increase the distance and go through the same procedure. After a while you will be able to leave the room and return with your dog in stay position.
Dog training takes a great deal of patience and perseverance. It is best to structure the training within short time periods so your dog does not lose focus. 10-15 minute sessions usually work well. You will find that the training process helps you communicate better with your dog while building a stronger bond between you and your pet.
Suggested dog training treats: Grizzly Salmon NuTreats, Etta Says!, NatureNosh
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