What do you do when food rewards don’t work? In this episode of Dog Training Bytes, we tackle low food drive, training frustration, and how to rethink reinforcement for dogs with big feelings.
Host Mattison Skoog-Simpson sits down with Lauren Sisak, certified professional dog trainer and founder of Sit. Stay. Stella. Lauren shares the story of Raisin, a reactive dog who struggled with food motivation, leash sensitivity, and confidence outdoors. Through creative problem-solving, patience, and redefining reinforcement, Lauren helped Raisin make incredible progress—and developed a whole new approach to helping complex dogs thrive.
📌 In This Episode:
✔️ Why some dogs refuse food in training—and what to do about it
✔️ The fine line between luring and coercion with food rewards
✔️ Creative reinforcers beyond treats (what REALLY motivates your dog)
✔️ How to work with dogs who "freeze" or shut down
✔️ The power of observation: Why staring sessions changed everything
🔗 Connect with Mattison:
Instagram: @dogtrainingbytes | @freedbytraining
Website & Resources: www.dogtrainingbytes.stream
🔗 Connect with Lauren:
Instagram: @sitstaystella
Website: www.sitstaystella.com
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#DogTrainingPodcast #DogBehavior #LowFoodDrive #PositiveReinforcement #DogTrainingTips #ReactiveDogs
[Visual design by Mattison Skoog-Simpson and music by Alexi Action.]