Board and Train Puppy Training: Introducing the Treat & Train with Gemmy
One of the biggest goals in puppy training is creating a dog that can think independently while still maintaining clear communication with the handler. While food rewards are an essential part of teaching new behaviors, how those rewards are delivered can have a significant impact on the learning process.
In this training session, we're introducing Gemmy, a 5½-month-old Dachshund enrolled in our Board & Train program, to the Treat & Train. What started as simply experimenting with a new training tool quickly turned into a full training session because Gemmy understood the game almost immediately.
Watching a young puppy confidently adapt to a new reward system is always exciting, and Gemmy definitely didn't disappoint.
What Is a Treat & Train?
A Treat & Train is a remote reward dispenser that allows trainers to reinforce behaviors without physically handing food to the dog.
Instead of every reward coming directly from the handler, the Treat & Train delivers reinforcement from a separate location after the correct behavior is performed.
While it may seem like a simple piece of equipment, it opens the door to countless training opportunities by allowing us to separate the handler from the reward.
That separation creates much clearer communication for many exercises.
Why We Use Remote Reinforcement
One of the challenges in puppy training is that many dogs begin to focus more on the food in the handler's hand than on the behavior itself.
When that happens, the puppy may simply follow the food rather than learning the actual exercise.
Remote reinforcement helps shift that focus.
Instead of constantly looking at the handler's hand, the puppy begins learning that rewards come from correctly performing the behavior. This encourages more independent thinking and creates cleaner repetitions during training.
For exercises involving positions, distance work, or future obedience skills, this can be an incredibly valuable training tool.
Building Independent Problem Solvers
One of our biggest goals at Primal Canine is helping dogs become active participants in the learning process.
Rather than simply following food or physical guidance, we want puppies to think through exercises and make good decisions on their own.
The Treat & Train encourages exactly that.
Because the reward comes from a separate location, Gemmy has to focus on the information being presented rather than constantly watching where food is being held.
This creates better engagement, stronger problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of the exercise.
For young puppies, those learning experiences build confidence that carries over into every future training session.
Why Gemmy Picked It Up So Quickly
Every puppy learns at a different pace, but Gemmy has consistently shown that she enjoys working through new concepts.
During this session, she quickly began understanding the relationship between her behavior, our marker system, and the remote reward. That understanding allowed us to turn what was originally planned as a simple introduction into an entire training session.
When puppies begin offering behaviors confidently and actively participating in the learning process, it's often a sign that the communication system is becoming clear.
That's exactly what we saw from Gemmy.
The Role of Marker Training
The Treat & Train doesn't replace marker training.
It actually makes marker timing even more important.
Our markers continue telling Gemmy exactly when she's correct, while the Treat & Train simply changes where the reinforcement comes from.
This combination creates a clear sequence:
Gemmy performs the behavior.
She hears the marker.
The Treat & Train delivers the reward.
She begins another repetition.
This predictable pattern allows learning to happen quickly while keeping the puppy engaged throughout the session.
Building Foundations Before Advanced Obedience
At 5½ months old, Gemmy is still building the foundation that every reliable obedience dog needs.
We're not focused on advanced exercises yet.
Instead, we're developing:
Clear communication
Marker understanding
Reward mechanics
Independent thinking
Engagement
Confidence
Problem-solving skills
These foundational concepts make advanced obedience much easier as training progresses because the puppy already understands how the learning process works.
Gemmy's Board & Train Progress
Gemmy continues to impress us with every training session.
She's adapting quickly to new concepts, showing excellent engagement, and becoming more confident as her understanding grows. Her willingness to experiment, think through exercises, and embrace a completely new reward system made this one of those unexpected sessions that ended up producing fantastic results.
Sometimes the best training sessions aren't the ones you plan in advance—they're the ones where the dog tells you they're ready for the next challenge.
Gemmy certainly did that here, and we're excited to continue incorporating the Treat & Train into her development as she progresses through her Board & Train program.
If you're looking for professional puppy training, Board & Train programs, obedience training, behavior modification, or dog training services in Gilroy, San Jose, Morgan Hill, and throughout the Bay Area, visit www.primalcanine.com to learn more about our training programs.