Find What Reward Works For Your Dog The most typical reward people go for when training their dogs is a treat. When first training my dogs, we used anything from grilled chicken to store-bought pellets. However, if your puppy isn't food-motivated, toys or activities can be a good motivator. Not all dogs are motivated by the same things, so don't be afraid to switch it up if treats aren't doing the trick! Image Source: Getty / SolStock