Motivating dogs...
Discussion
...who aren't food or toy oriented.
My two yorkies are well-behaved, have good dog-manners and have reasonable recall, but I would like to get them to do some simple tricks like rolling over, and I would also like to get their recall firmed up a bit, if you know what I mean - I call "come" and then it's >dog drops everything instantly and returns as if attached to owner by elastic<.
Thing is, they're really not food-oriented (have you ever seen a dog that will sit on the sofa next to you and not even open its eyes when you're eating a bacon sandwich?) and they don't have a favourite toy.
The one likes to fetch a ball and the other likes sticks, but I'm not sure how to use these as rewards.
How do you set about motivating dogs who don't seem to like the usual things, which seem to me to be either a tasty treat or some quality time with the favourite toy?
My two yorkies are well-behaved, have good dog-manners and have reasonable recall, but I would like to get them to do some simple tricks like rolling over, and I would also like to get their recall firmed up a bit, if you know what I mean - I call "come" and then it's >dog drops everything instantly and returns as if attached to owner by elastic<.
Thing is, they're really not food-oriented (have you ever seen a dog that will sit on the sofa next to you and not even open its eyes when you're eating a bacon sandwich?) and they don't have a favourite toy.
The one likes to fetch a ball and the other likes sticks, but I'm not sure how to use these as rewards.
How do you set about motivating dogs who don't seem to like the usual things, which seem to me to be either a tasty treat or some quality time with the favourite toy?
My erstwhile Dalmatian cross was a doddle to train; we just went down to the field and let him know you had something tasty in your pocket, and he was putty in our hands. Because in the aforementioned sofa/sarnie scenario, he'd have had the bacon out of the buttie even as it was en route to your mouth. I miss the greedy bugger, not least because the kitchen floor was always spotless on his watch.
No idea - I've got a northern cousin to yours, a Cairn . He's loves his food, but only if given ,or off floor. He'll not thieve off kids - and sometimes will only take from my hand . At times, he'll only respond to treats, other times, he's looking to persuade a large dog to go away. But small terriers, he's looking to be friendly - it's the P round a lampost thing - something that only a terrier owner can apreciate .
i'd say it's just a terrier thing.
i'd say it's just a terrier thing.
Another vote for praise. Reinforcing good behaviour is the way to go. Try training them one at a time. When they do the right thing give them heaps of praise and fuss. It'll take time though.
For a treat, try this recipe, I've not known a dog that doesn't like it but perhaps your two might be the first!
Get some cheap ox liver. Fry it with lots of garlic until well cooked. Allow to cool then cut up into very small chunks. Put it on a baking tray and leave in a low oven until completely dried out, it wants to be rock hard but not burnt. The result is a dry treat you can put in your pocket and can give liberally as the bits are so small you aren't in any danger of overfeeding. They are a great training aid.
For a treat, try this recipe, I've not known a dog that doesn't like it but perhaps your two might be the first!
Get some cheap ox liver. Fry it with lots of garlic until well cooked. Allow to cool then cut up into very small chunks. Put it on a baking tray and leave in a low oven until completely dried out, it wants to be rock hard but not burnt. The result is a dry treat you can put in your pocket and can give liberally as the bits are so small you aren't in any danger of overfeeding. They are a great training aid.
rovermorris999 said:
Another vote for praise. Reinforcing good behaviour is the way to go. Try training them one at a time. When they do the right thing give them heaps of praise and fuss. It'll take time though.
For a treat, try this recipe, I've not known a dog that doesn't like it but perhaps your two might be the first!
Get some cheap ox liver. Fry it with lots of garlic until well cooked. Allow to cool then cut up into very small chunks. Put it on a baking tray and leave in a low oven until completely dried out, it wants to be rock hard but not burnt. The result is a dry treat you can put in your pocket and can give liberally as the bits are so small you aren't in any danger of overfeeding. They are a great training aid.
Yep, liver cake. Not many mutts can resist that. It also lasts ages in the fridge after being cooked, and can be frozen too.For a treat, try this recipe, I've not known a dog that doesn't like it but perhaps your two might be the first!
Get some cheap ox liver. Fry it with lots of garlic until well cooked. Allow to cool then cut up into very small chunks. Put it on a baking tray and leave in a low oven until completely dried out, it wants to be rock hard but not burnt. The result is a dry treat you can put in your pocket and can give liberally as the bits are so small you aren't in any danger of overfeeding. They are a great training aid.
Your recall is missing the stop or sit command. Put the dogs brakes on followed by the what does he want me to do now command of what ever you want.
Recall can be buggered up by teasing or pissing it off. There are a few dogs that can think for themselves ie collies but generally it's praise, praise, praise and more praise. The trick is to catch the dog before it does something wrong and praise.
As for tricks....a dog is a dog not a clown.
Recall can be buggered up by teasing or pissing it off. There are a few dogs that can think for themselves ie collies but generally it's praise, praise, praise and more praise. The trick is to catch the dog before it does something wrong and praise.
As for tricks....a dog is a dog not a clown.
rovermorris999 said:
Another vote for praise. Reinforcing good behaviour is the way to go. Try training them one at a time. When they do the right thing give them heaps of praise and fuss. It'll take time though.
For a treat, try this recipe, I've not known a dog that doesn't like it but perhaps your two might be the first!
Get some cheap ox liver. Fry it with lots of garlic until well cooked. Allow to cool then cut up into very small chunks. Put it on a baking tray and leave in a low oven until completely dried out, it wants to be rock hard but not burnt. The result is a dry treat you can put in your pocket and can give liberally as the bits are so small you aren't in any danger of overfeeding. They are a great training aid.
My dog is an 11 year old Cairn , called Toby . Add liver , in any shape or form . And he's be a a gas generator for the UK. And, garlic - been told it's not too good for the liver/kidney. No way for mine. I wander down to either Sainsbury or Asda and get a bag of meaty treats. They come in strips, which you break off and reward them with . Asda's are low fat, better for te older dog . For a treat, try this recipe, I've not known a dog that doesn't like it but perhaps your two might be the first!
Get some cheap ox liver. Fry it with lots of garlic until well cooked. Allow to cool then cut up into very small chunks. Put it on a baking tray and leave in a low oven until completely dried out, it wants to be rock hard but not burnt. The result is a dry treat you can put in your pocket and can give liberally as the bits are so small you aren't in any danger of overfeeding. They are a great training aid.
Garlic's fine in this quantity. Nutmeg will make you ill if you have enough but in small amounts it's fine. Same with garlic for dogs. We're talking tiny amounts of liver here not feeding them it. I've kept dogs for 35 years and liver cake is the ideal treat, never had a problem. They can't resist it.
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