Treats and chews
What treats work best for a dog that is not food motivated?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
For a dog that seems unmoved by standard biscuits, trying stronger smelling, moister options such as small pieces of cooked chicken, freeze dried liver, or a smear of plain cheese usually gets a stronger response, since scent intensity matters more to many dogs than the treat's category. Training in a quiet, low distraction setting and using a slightly hungrier moment, such as before a meal, also helps reveal true motivation.
Why standard treats sometimes fail to motivate
A dry, mild smelling biscuit competes poorly against a distracting environment or a dog that is already fairly full, so what looks like low food motivation is sometimes really a mismatch between the treat's appeal and the context. Testing the same dog with a stronger smelling option, like a small piece of freeze dried liver, in the exact same setting often produces a clearly different response.
Timing sessions around genuine hunger
Training shortly before a scheduled meal, when a dog is mildly hungry rather than freshly fed, noticeably increases most dogs' interest in food rewards. A session held right after a large meal is one of the most common reasons a dog appears uninterested in treats that would otherwise work well.
When a dog genuinely prefers other rewards
Some dogs, particularly certain working and herding types, are more motivated by a quick game of tug, a thrown ball, or verbal praise paired with play than by any food, and forcing food based training on a dog like this often underperforms compared to switching the primary reward to what the dog actually wants.
Key takeaways
- Stronger smelling, moister treats like liver or chicken often outperform dry biscuits for low motivation dogs.
- Training just before a meal, rather than after, increases most dogs' interest in food rewards.
- A quiet, low distraction setting helps reveal a dog's true food motivation.
- Some dogs are genuinely more motivated by play or praise than by any food reward.