Trick or Treat?

The trick I use in dog training is to vary when you give your dog a treat. I know, there are so many conflicting views and methods out there in the dog training world. I don’t blame you for being confused. Using treats as a reward is fine sometimes but certainly not the only mode of praise. Your voice can do the trick too. Giving treats all the time when teaching your dog can often give you a reverse affect. Your dog ends up training you.

In honor of Halloween,  I have a little treat for you, a little  insight. Many people end up begging, repeating, coaxing and luring their dog to come or sit with treats. Tying to teach your dog exclusively with treats all the time will give you a fast effect, but it may not last. Over time your dog will catch on and when you don’t have the treat as he is running away from you after that squirrel, then what?  Besides, I don’t always want to have a piece of chicken in my hand every time I want my dog to do something. I am all about giving cookies and treats ‘just because’… but not all the time. As a trainer I don’t want to rely on treats as a primary source of communication. Hence, I’m not a big fan of the clicker training. Technically speaking what the treat does is creates focus. But over-using treats to train your dog will give you limited success.

Using voice inflection, movement, and body language also creates focus. For example, when a squirrel runs across the fence, it gets your dogs focus, right? So here are a few tips and tricks. Try it, you’ll like it. Next time you’re at home, ask your dog to come. Use movement. Take a couple steps backward as you say “Come!” in a happy voice, then gesture the letter “J” and say sit. You’ll find your dog coming to you and sitting in front of you waiting for what’s next!

Here’s another treat. When you come home form work, walk in the door silently. Zip it. No voice. Crouch down and give your dog a deep, slow massage, very silently. This will condition your dog to greet you in a mellow way and you both get some sugar. Remember, you can show love in many different ways.