So, you've got a reactive dog. Congratulations, you've won the lottery of anxiety and overstimulation!

But fear not, with a bit of patience, training, and some handy tools, you can help your pupper be a better-behaved, socially-tolerant pooch. And what's the one tool you absolutely can't train without? A good ol' treat bag!

"Why not use my pockets?" you ask. Oh, boy, where do I begin? Sure, pockets are great for storing all kinds of things, like spare change, old receipts, and lint. But when it comes to training a reactive dog, the last thing you want is to be fumbling around in your pockets, trying to fish out a treat while your dog is in full-on bark mode.

Enter the treat bag: a handy pouch that keeps your treats close at hand and ready for action. But what makes a good treat bag? Well, let's take a look!

Size Matters

First things first, make sure your treat bag is big enough to hold a sufficient amount of treats. If you're going to be training for more than a few minutes, you don't want to run out of treats halfway through.

Keep It Secure

The last thing you want is for your treats to go flying out of your bag and all over the ground. Make sure your treat bag has a secure closure, like a magnet, to keep the treats in place. Bonus points if it's easy to open and close with one hand, so you can keep your dog's leash held secure. I do not recommend the drawstring treat bags that are popular and cheap. Treats easily fall out and the bags tip all over the place!

Easy Access

Speaking of leashes, make sure your treat bag is easy to access while you're holding your dog's leash. You don't want to be fumbling around with a complicated clip or attachment while your dog is lunging at a passing car. Find one with an adjustable waist belt or that can clip onto your pants. The Doggone Good Rapid Rewards pouch has both!

Wash and Wear

Let's face it, training a reactive dog can be messy business. Your treat bag is going to get dirty, wet, and possibly covered in dog drool. Make sure your treat bag is made of durable, washable material that can stand up to some wear and tear. You can get silicone pouches that are a dream to clean but they do not have extra pockets for your clicker, poop bags, phone or keys.

Well behaved dogs are stylish

And finally, let's talk style. Some people think wearing a treat bag is not stylish at all. and, you're right! You're going to be wearing this thing around your waist for hours on end, so you might want to make it look good. Whether you go for a simple, utilitarian design or something a little more colorful and fun, just make sure it's comfortable to wear and practical to use. I do a little internal happy dance when I see someone with a treat bag so know that you are doing right by your dog and that is the most important thing! Having a dog barking a lunging is way more embarrassing than wearing a treat bag ;)

Recommendations

These are some of the treat bags I have tried and recommend

• Doggone Good Rapid Rewards
• Black Dog Wear Treat Tote
• Black Dog Wear Treat Bag (comes in a maxi size that is genuinely HUGE)
• Puppingtons Treat Bag

So there you have it, folks. The treat bag: the one tool you absolutely can't train without. Whether you're training a reactive dog or just getting started with basic obedience, a good treat bag is a must-have accessory. So go forth, and train your doggo to be the best boy or girl they can be!

Got questions? Leave a comment, send me an email or message me on Facebook!