SIT AND STAY

ASKING YOUR DOG WHAT HE WOULD LIKE AS A REWARD

          Because we train with a marker word or clicker that we pair with a food reward, you must begin by finding out what your dog likes the most in the treat department or which treats trigger the most desirable response from your dog. The treat should be large enough to motivate your dog to want another one yet not so small that he loses interest.  The ideal treats are soft and chewy and with some dogs it's best to stay away from hard treats for the simple reason that if they try to eat it too fast, they could choke on it. 

           I would like to show you a fun way to discover which treats your dog finds most motivating to him:

          Put your dog on a leash in the kitchen and show him 2 or 3 pieces of hot dog in one hand and 2 or 3 pieces of string cheese in the other. Let him smell each hand but don't give him the treats.  Now toss them on the floor leaving a wide space between the two choices and take the leash off.

          Which one does he go for first?  Repeat this exercise with different treats like cooked chicken breast, cooked sweet potatoes, dog lamb sausage, cut steak, carrot sticks or baked liver. Can you tell which one your dog prefers first? ...what about second?   When I offered baked liver to my own dog Maurice, he pulled back and looked at me with distain…clearly that was definitely not a favorite of his.

          Don't be afraid to experiment with your treats - the sky is the limit when it comes to determining what will best motivate your dog.

          By the time you are through, you should know what your dog considers a "high value" reward, which means he will do almost anything to earn it. This will help you when teaching new behaviors, or rewarding him for a challenging task well done.   The "low value" treats we use for maintenance training, for instance with a dog that knows the sit well, but still gets periodic reinforcement with a treat. A typical low value treat might be kibble from his dinner or a regular store bought goodie.

          The concept of using treats is not to feed the dog, but rather to offer a reward that has high enough value to keep the dog engaged with you.  I would like to add that the treats should be switched often to keep your dog's interest high.  And please remember to cut down on your dog's food when you are treating him throughout the day for training.

           Now you know the dog trainer lingo: "high" and "low" value treats, which means you are on your way to being a great trainer for your dog.

Have fun!!!

~Sybille Wells, of Sit and Stay Dog Training

<--read articles #1 & 2

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