As your puppy becomes more confident walking by your side, you can begin to slightly delay the food reward by removing the food from your hand. Continue to mark with “yes” (or a click) when your puppy is in the correct position, but now deliver the reward from your treat bag rather than directly from your hand. This helps your puppy learn to maintain the position without relying on the constant presence of food, while still reinforcing the behaviour and keeping the walk calm and connected.
