Making Good Progress With Training Only If She Sniffs Food

[chloebear]

Holly has made wonderfull progress with basic comands and walking on a leash, but only when she smells food. Unless she gets a food treat every couple of steps she plants her butt on the ground and won't go any further. How do I get her to do things without always having to reward her with treats. Yes a four month puppy is out smarting me.........

[dee lee]

My 10 month-old is outsmarting me that way too. LOL. I guess the NILIF approach goes both ways

I must say she is finally getting better teensy bit by teensy bit.

They will improve as they get older- early days yet.

Just so you dont think you are alone

[BC]

Very early days. This is something that is going to take a long time to accomplish, so there is no harm in continuing the food until you feel she is more confident. This will most likely be months and months or hard work on your part and heaps of food rewards.

When training my dog in competition obedience, I had him on food for an entire 6 months prior to even taking it away occasionally, as he had no issues, so it is going to be a long road, and try not to jump ahead of yourself.

When you get to that stage of not using food, you dont take it away completely, just reduce the amount. When she has more confidence generally, try just rewarding with food every second time, then every third time. But I would never take any reward away, regardless of the dogs skill/age etc.

Good luck

Edited October 12, 2007 by BC

[Kelpie-i]

Sounds like your pup has turned the tables and is now training you!

Using food to train (whilst excellent in teaching) does have its downfalls and one of them is that it quickly turns into a bribe rather than a reward for a job well done.

If she plants the bum the best thing you can do is immediatly drop the leash and walk away (probably best to do this in a safe, enclosed area initially). Show her that you are not going to play this game and that she is not the one in control of the treats, but rather you are. As soon as she realises that she is not going to get the treat and that you are walking away, she should decide that this game is no longer fun and come racing back to you. After 20 or 30 paces, give her the treat reward but don't come to a stop when you do, continue walking in many different directions to encourage her to follow you for longer periods between food treats. It's somewhat of a follow the leader game.

Good luck!

Edited October 12, 2007 by Kelpie-i

[Tonymc]

Chloe,Kelpie-I has hit the nail on the Head.The Pup certainly has got the upper hand here.Left unchecked it would go from the pup wanting food every couple of steps down to every step. Tony

[Erny]

Kelpie-I has hit the nail on the Head.