I got to thinking, how many dont use treats?

[windwalker]

I was thinking about the new pup coming(call the 10th to find out when the litter will be ready for picking) and training her. How many if any do not use treats?


Although I used treats when training other peoples dogs, because it easier and the client can follow easier, I have never used them when training my own. I bond with the mutt and after that it just takes praise and pets. The only trick and treat I ever did with my own dogs was search and find and cookie on nose/stay. Now I will give my dogs random cookies and always a after supper cookie but training is just praise and sometimes pats and pets. Dogs love to do good and love to work. You can actually see pride of accomplishment when they finally understand what you want on training a new command.


Just had to fess up, and see if there are others, lol

[yorkietalkjilly]

Listen, I use whatever works best to interest, excite and reward that particular dog the most and get him busy wanting to learn to work for me. Some dogs could care less about treats or toys - others seem to need the loving "words" of treats to get them going, especially toy dogs. I find most any dog will work for me if I keep the training upbeat and make it fun for them. Then, they push me to work and do it for themselves. But in the end, that pride of accomplishment in themselves and the pride for them they see in your eyes is what makes it magic.

[mygirlHalo]

I use all three, praise, toys and treats...whatever works ! I do make the treats myself, I don't trust "store bought" treats anymore. Halo is stubborn !!

[kjc]

I start out using treats for new tricks or behaviors. Once learned and repeatable, I lengthen the time in between to giving treats at the end of the session. Or whatever works, lol!

[Britster]

I still use food but once a behavior is learned, I don't give a treat after every trick. He can go through like 10-20 behaviors in a row and then be given one treat at the end and be happy to work still. The thing is though, I don't mind using what would be HIS biggest currency (for him, it's food) because, well, frankly I wouldn't want to work for free either. But I think it is important to test their skills sometimes and NOT have a treat in your hand luring them. I do always use high value food when coming when called. I always want him to know that coming to me is worth it no matter what.

[windwalker]

Originally Posted by Britster

I do always use high value food when coming when called. I always want him to know that coming to me is worth it no matter what.

That's a great idea, "Come" and "No" are our most important commands. We constantly run tricks and commands for reinforcement and our dogs have always enjoyed that, they love doing them to show off. Sig would even do some just to get attention and get petted when I was involved in a project and not noticing her enough. Her favorite trick was a nose toss, I would put a cookie on her nose and she would Sit/Stay till given the ok, sometimes tossing it 5' in the air or if I signaled just snapping (it just disappeared). Heelers have the longest attention span I have ever seen in a dog. If she wanted to play catch she would bring the ball and look at me, sometimes for 5 minutes, then if that didn't work, put it in my lap or push me with it. She would just look at the ball till I threw it, sometimes 20 minutes or more.

[Maximo]

Some dogs are also more toy driven. I joke that my boys don't work for free, so I use kibble rewards to train in the house. They are not food driven outdoors.

[gemy]

I use all three, pats and loving for rewards, treats, and or toys. My group works well on all three.

Now because I train for competitive obedience, I never use come with the puppy if I don't want her to do the official come, which is directly back to me and sit at my feet. I will whistle or say her name, clap my hands what-ever if for example she is just in the backyard having some fun and I want her to come back to me.

Come for sure is hugely rewarded, even if come is not spoken, loving enthusiastic greetings, she laps it up, and quite frankly so do I.

Right now we are having a bit of regression with jumping up. This is something she is so proud of; her leaping ability. She was doing well, and now 1 month later, has regressed to doing a frontal leap or jump. The knee in the chest is not working, nor is side-stepping, nor is NO. So our thinking caps are on, and treats will go back into all my jacket pockets, as the most delectable time for jumps is when I come home. So I go back to sit and treat when I come in the door. Oh and BTW she is a BRT and not a Yorkie - at 5 months old weighing in around 50 lbs or so.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Britster

I still use food but once a behavior is learned, I don't give a treat after every trick. He can go through like 10-20 behaviors in a row and then be given one treat at the end and be happy to work still. The thing is though, I don't mind using what would be HIS biggest currency (for him, it's food) because, well, frankly I wouldn't want to work for free either. But I think it is important to test their skills sometimes and NOT have a treat in your hand luring them. I do always use high value food when coming when called. I always want him to know that coming to me is worth it no matter what.

Tibbe is the same. He will now go through his whole repertoire for a single treat at the end. Except I can't help but serial treat him then - usually 4 or 5 in a row. When I do good work, I expect a fat paycheck and I think he should be rewarded in kind! Still, to keep him excited and hopeful by the prospect and looking at it all as fun, occasionally only praise and/or a play session is offered so he doesn't come to expect a treat every time after doing his tricks.

But I fessed up on YT long ago that to this day Tibbe gets praised, told "Good boy", usually petted or scratched and treated almost every time he comes when called - and I get a little kiss on the leg or hand from him. Only very occasionally do I not treat but I always praise him. And he comes first call 99 99/100% of the time. Since he's got MVD and IBS, I have to just give him his prescription kibble for treats, plain or fixed or cooked various ways, but they are high-value to him. He acts like they are warm, boiled chicken or beef!!!

To tell you the truth, I think Tibbe would work now just to work. He's addicted to the training, all the fun activity, the learning process(he loves the term "new trick' and trying to figure out something new I want), the bonding that working together brings; and he lives to show off more than anything. He loves that he can do whatever I ask of him and preens through his due praise, looking me right in the eye as he takes it all in, usually dog-laughing all the while. He's very self-confident and proud of himself! And he was a broken, frightened dog when he first came here.

[windwalker]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

He loves that he can do whatever I ask of him and preens through his due praise, looking me right in the eye as he takes it all in, usually dog-laughing all the while. He's very self-confident and proud of himself! And he was a broken, frightened dog when he first came here.

You do good work too, thanks

[Britster]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Tibbe is the same. He will now go through his whole repertoire for a single treat at the end. Except I can't help but serial treat him then - usually 4 or 5 in a row. When I do good work, I expect a fat paycheck and I think he should be rewarded in kind! Still, to keep him excited and hopeful by the prospect and looking at it all as fun, occasionally only praise and/or a play session is offered so he doesn't come to expect a treat every time after doing his tricks.

But I fessed up on YT long ago that to this day Tibbe gets praised, told "Good boy", usually petted or scratched and treated almost every time he comes when called - and I get a little kiss on the leg or hand from him. Only very occasionally do I not treat but I always praise him. And he comes first call 99 99/100% of the time. Since he's got MVD and IBS, I have to just give him his prescription kibble for treats, plain or fixed or cooked various ways, but they are high-value to him. He acts like they are warm, boiled chicken or beef!!!

To tell you the truth, I think Tibbe would work now just to work. He's addicted to the training, all the fun activity, the learning process(he loves the term "new trick' and trying to figure out something new I want), the bonding that working together brings; and he lives to show off more than anything. He loves that he can do whatever I ask of him and preens through his due praise, looking me right in the eye as he takes it all in, usually dog-laughing all the while. He's very self-confident and proud of himself! And he was a broken, frightened dog when he first came here.

It's such an amazing thing, isn't it? Jackson is the same... while he's super food motivated, he will work for me just to work. I just prefer giving him rewards for working. I have no problems wanting to keep him extra happy. To see his face light up when we sit down for training sessions, he's always ready, and the bond we have created through the years is amazing. I take it for granted sometimes when I see others struggling with their dogs to teach simple behaviors... sometimes you just have to get to the core of it all, and really 'connect' with your dog with more than simply a treat, a clicker, or whatever.