The “Treat!” Game

Sometimes the best way to get something away from your puppy is to convince them they have something better to do.

Puppies explore the world with their noses and their mouths.

And unfortunately, they don't always make great choices about what goes into that mouth. 😂

A sock.

A rock.

A piece of paper.

Something they found outside.

Or something you REALLY don't want them to swallow.

The natural reaction is often to rush toward the puppy and grab it.

The puppy's natural reaction may be:

“Oh! We're playing KEEP AWAY!”

And off they go.

That's one of the reasons I teach The Treat Game.

The goal is to build such a strong association with the word “Treat!” that your puppy hears it, leaves what they're doing and comes to you expecting something really good.

This Isn't the Same as “Puppy, Puppy, Puppy!”

You've already learned about our special:

“Puppy, puppy, puppy!”

recall.

Keep that one special.

The Treat Game has a different purpose.

We're teaching:

“When I hear TREAT, I stop what I'm doing and go to my person because something better is waiting for me.”

That becomes especially useful when your puppy has found something you'd rather they didn't have.

Week 1: Teach the Word “Treat”

Once a day, wait until your puppy is focused on something else.

Walk over calmly with a high-value treat.

Hold it near their nose and say:

“Treat!”

Give them the treat and praise them.

That's it.

We're simply teaching:

TREAT = something really good is about to happen.

Don't make it complicated.

Week 2: Add a Little Distance

Now we're going to make the puppy come to you.

From a short distance, say:

“Treat!”

Let your puppy come to you.

When they reach you, give them the treat and praise them.

Keep it easy.

No big distractions or complicated setups yet.

We're building the habit before we make the game harder.

Week 3: Head to the Fridge

Now we're going to make this look a little more like real life.

Wait until your puppy is doing something else.

Say:

“Treat!”

and start walking toward the refrigerator—or wherever you keep that special reward.

Let your puppy follow you.

Reward them when they get there.

You can begin adding small distractions—a toy, some background noise or something else mildly interesting.

The lesson is becoming:

“When I hear TREAT, I leave what I'm doing and follow my person.”

Week 4 & Beyond: Make It Useful

Once your puppy understands the game, practice it a few times each week.

Now choose moments when your puppy is genuinely interested in something.

Maybe they're playing.

Chewing something appropriate.

Watching the kids.

Interested in something across the room.

Say:

“Treat!”

and head toward the refrigerator.

When they leave what they're doing and come with you, make sure the reward is worth it.

This is why I like using something high value for this game.

If you're asking your puppy to give up something really interesting, don't offer them the canine equivalent of a saltine cracker. 😂

Now Comes the Important Part

Eventually, your puppy is going to pick up something they shouldn't have.

Your first instinct may be to:

GO GET IT!

Try not to.

If you chase your puppy, you can accidentally turn the whole thing into a game.

Now the puppy has the forbidden object AND you're chasing them.

Best day ever. 😂

Instead, use what you've practiced.

Say:

“Treat!”

and calmly start walking away toward your treat location.

The goal is for the puppy to think:

“Oh! I know this game!”

and leave the object to follow you.

Once the puppy has moved away, calmly retrieve the object.

• No chase.
• No tug-of-war over the sock.
• No big production.
• Don't Immediately Dive for the Object

This part matters.

If your puppy drops something and you immediately lunge toward it, you may make the puppy think:

“WAIT! Apparently that thing was REALLY valuable!”

Instead, get the puppy moving away from it.

If necessary and safe to do so, you can casually cover the dropped object with your foot while you're rewarding the puppy.

Then pick it up after the puppy's attention has moved on.

Make the treat more interesting than the thing you're taking away.

Don't Turn Everything Into a Trade

Once your puppy understands the game, don't spend all day saying “Treat!”

We want the word to continue to mean something.

Practice enough to keep the response strong, and use it when it's useful.

Just like so many things we're teaching:

Don't wear out a good word.

What If It's Actually Dangerous?

The Treat Game is a training tool—not a rule that says you can never physically take something away from your puppy.

If your puppy has something that could cause immediate harm, get it away from them.

Safety comes first.

We're practicing the Treat Game so that many of those situations can hopefully be handled calmly before they turn into a wrestling match.

Why I Like This Game

It teaches your puppy that you approaching doesn't always mean:

“She's coming to take my stuff!”

Instead, we're building a history of:

“My person has something good for me.”

It also gives you an alternative to chasing your puppy around the house every time they steal something.

And trust me...

At some point, they're going to steal something. 😂

Keep It Simple

Teach “Treat!”

Make the reward worth coming for.

Practice when nothing is wrong.

Gradually add distractions.

Don't chase your puppy.

Get them away from the object before retrieving it.

And keep the experience positive.

The goal is simple:

Puppy hears “TREAT!” → Puppy leaves what they're doing → Puppy comes to you → GREAT things happen.

That's The Treat Game.