Q:  Is it a bad habit to give your dog treats for doing things such as heeling, a sit-stay, and so on?

A:  Why, no! Modern dog training is based on what scientists have learned about "reinforcement" — that is, strengthening the behaviors we like by providing what our dogs like as a reward. And most dogs do like food.

However, the way we use food rewards makes a big difference, both to our dogs' health and to the success of our training.

First, health. Treats should be tiny —I use pinky-nail-size bits of food as training rewards for my 75-pound dog. That way I can reward quickly and frequently, so my dog gets lots of practice without losing his appetite, getting an upset stomach, or becoming fat. Keeping a balanced diet is especially important with puppies and small dogs. Fortunately, most dogs will happily work for bits of high-quality dry dog food (one of the varieties made mostly of meat, without grain fillers). That's especially true if you schedule training sessions right before mealtime and if you make training a routine part of your daily life, so your dog is used to working for part of his rations.