Training treats...To use or not to use - Page 2

Some people use treats, other's prefer toys.  Whatever has been working for you I wouldn't change.  I've talked to some folks that don't use treats because they say it adds calories to the dogs diet and can make them get overweight.  Someone told me once that he uses ice cubes as treats for his dogs while training; no added fat, keeps them cool and hydrated and also is a cheap and endless supply.  I tried to get my dogs to like it but they wanted nothing to do with ice cubes. lol  Can't say I  blamed them.  On my older dogs we reward with toys.  The pups seem to work easier for me with food and I eventually move them to toys.

Training should be a joy.  I use food and e-collars and prong collars.

Any trainer who tells you that there is only one way to train, doesn't know shit from shinola.

But, remember:  The goal of all dog training should be the weaning off of all tools.  IN other words, when I send home a finished service dog to their new owner, that new owner should be able to work that dog 90% of the time in a buckle collar or a simple service dog harness.

Granted, there are dogs that will never get to that point, I know,.....but that should be the goal that we are trying to attain....which means at some point in time, food should not have to be used, except occassionally!

I use regular dog food with my male Drago and it works great for him. Just do whatever works best.

Zookeeper, I am by any means an expert.To answer your question the trainer is wrong!!!I agree with everyone that responded to your question.What The dog trainer said..pay close attention.

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I suspected that he might be a little close minded.  I won't be leaving my dogs at that facility, he also made some other comments that I didn't fully agree with like a male dog should be neutered or they will mark inside the house and be overly aggressive.   I also mentioned to him that my dogs spend a lot of time indoors with the family to which he said that they would be better off outside.  My dogs do like to be outside too, but really only when people are out with them.  We take them on walks very day and put them outside to play and do their business, but when they are done they sit by the door waiting to be let in, it is close to 100 degrees here in Texas, I can't blame them.  This particular trainer sure had his opinions, most of which I didn't really agree with, but to each his own. 

zookeeper, that paticular trainer would be one I would stay away from.  Trust your instincts, they worked well in this case.

I believe in treats and toys especially for starting puppies, they should have fun learning the concepts.  Once the concepts are learned, I then start replacing them with praise both physical and verbal.  I also believe in consequences when a dog has the concepts down pat and does something not acceptable.  I have a 7 year old intact male K9 that I will still intermittently give a treat/toy just to keep him on his toes as well as lots of verbal and physical praise.  Just to give you an idea of this particular male.  I was at (drumroll please) Petco and the trainer there was using clicker training.  She saw me correct my male when he decided he was not going to sit/stay.  She swore clicker training was the best way and I was "so mean", she started to click the darn thing infront of my dog's nose while saying sit (hello, he was already sitting) just to show me how to do it, he delicately reached out, took the clicker and crunched it, then spit it out. He then turned his head off to the side and ignored her. All from the sit/stay.  I laughed so hard. This was years ago, but I still get a giggle out of it

Trust your instincts.  I believe in the more "training tools" you can put in your tool box, the better off you are.  Just because you may have 10 different screwdrivers in your tool box, doesn't mean you will use each one for a particular job.

Hodie -

  You just sparked a memory of when I bought a Bitch who was already BH Titled and onlyhad her a little while befor eI began training her for AKC Obedience, etc. When she was released she would lunge at my face and I had no idea what she was doing only getting more & more frustrated at her and correcting her. Finally I contacted the previous owner to ask if she had this issue as by then she had split my lip and I was p'd off (I didn't want a dog who lunged at people's faces!). The owner started laughing and said she forgot to tell me she always used a ball cap as a reward and the poor dog was only doing what she had been taught (which is why she looked so crushed when I would correct her). Luckily we were able to transfer the reward to a ball and lose the cap all together. I had never thought of that and it was just baffling my mind why she was such a nice titled dog with Therapy Certifiaction yet she would do this when she got so excited. You never know what people can think of...............

Tina

Mindhunt, that story is hilarious!  I too believe in correction when a dog deliberately ignores a command when they already know it.  K-9 Mom, I have never heard of that kind of reward, that is funny.  I guess everyone uses what works for them and their dog, no matter how unorthodox.

This just happened the other day and I have to share....I am still laughing and boy does it hurt to laugh!!!!!

I recently had to have emergency back surgery (long story though it is interesting). I have been trying to get out of bed by myself (yes I am home finally, and yes I am very stubborn, want to do everything myself) and have had the dogs watching me, whining and barking encouragement (rather noisy sometimes) during all my unsuccessful attempts (finally gave in and had my husband help me).  One day I finally made it out of bed myself with my middle dog watching me.  As I was doing my bathroom duty, he runs up to his crate, comes trotting back down with his favorite bone in his mouth and promptly dropped it in my lap, then yipped at me.  I got my treat reward for accomplishing my task!!!!!!