Using reward based methods for training are common place now, thank goodness. Although what I have noticed is that many people I see get in a bit of a rut when it comes to choosing the rewards that they use for their dog. I've written a blog before on differing levels of treats which still applies but more than that its also worth taking the time to create a list of things that your dog sees as rewarding. It may shock you and make you think twice about some of the things you are doing.
Every dog is different
When you are training a dog whether it be for recall, for a command or for a behaviour, its really important (in my opinion) to find out what motivates them. Otherwise its like me trying to get you to work for chocolate when you don't care about chocolate but if I mention the word red wine, you are out of your seat like a shot!! Its the same with dogs. The more you motivate them with fun and what they love, the more they associate you with good things which in turn strengthens your relationship.
So to give you some examples...Mr Happy Henry has and still is damn hard work with his recall training but everyday he is getting better. Today for example he ignored about 12 dogs in Victoria Park and totally blanked 3 German Shepherds this afternoon. This is a breakthrough! We still have a lot of work to do but its been continual rewarding for when he does come back to me so that he sees me as far more fun than the other dogs. For Henry, he loves fetch, sniff the ball out, hide the ball, hunt the treat, play with the fake fox tail in my bag and so on. Treats are ok but they aren't going to win him over. He also loves random things like dancing in the leaves so that is one of his rewards!
Yes it is Henry dancing in the leaves!
With Cookie however as she is deaf I have to do a great deal of visual motioning and over the top gestures. Plus she is a bull breed who loves a bit of rough and tumble so for her, when she comes running back to me she loves nothing better than her tail being squeezed and a good old rub down. Or a brand new tennis ball or a bit of cheese.
And then there is Ronnie the Rottweiler whose favourite thing in life is water. Not to swim in, no, most of all she loves being fed water through an old Lucozade bottle. A bit like you do to baby lambs. It is just pure joy to her!!! So you see, finding out what excites your hound is for me, key to everything. Plus you will have so much more fun with your dog that way.
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