@procakes223 Basically yes, but keep in mind reinforcement can be done with many things beyond food. With my dog especially we are at the state where we are transitioning out of treats all the time. Instead I use environmental rewards as my main form of reinforcement outside of specific training windows or reward randomly with food. As in I might ask for six behaviors while praising and then reward with food on the seventh, and then the next behavior give him two food rewards but then not reward for the next four behaviors beyond praise and pats.
I also use toys and play for rewards and access to fun things. So for example there is a water fountain that leaks from the side at the park when you press the button on it. My dog loves the trickling water and drinks it as it falls out of the bottom of the basin of the fountain. I will train with this water fountain for five minutes as a reward.
To make it easy keeping treats in jars or ziplock bags around the house. It’s super helpful. Like no matter what I have treats of some kind in my bedroom, living room, car and kitchen area. I keep a bag of “trail mix” (bunch of mixed in dry snacks) in my training bag and always have a bag of string cheese and hotdogs in my fridge. Whenever I leave on a walk when I don’t use food I always at least grab a string cheese to use to reward and reinforce behavior.
If there are concerns for weight it helps to always break snacks/treats into small pieces. Mix in kibble with treats so they get their smell and use the kibble primarily. (Like my dog is a fiend for whip cream. I spray a little over a table spoon of whip cream in my dogs kibble and mix with water once a day) I will use his entire meal for a training session out of the house as a super high value reward.
You can also make healthy home made snacks pretty easily too. I use to do a super small portion of peanut butter mixed with yogurt, water and baby food And then I would put it in a squeeze bottle. I would give him canned tuna/salmon/anchovy (I always got the ones canned in water not oil) baked skinless chicken and boiled chicken liver. Most of these are fairly low calorie treats that are pretty easy to use and most don’t even require any cooking.