Comments on: Dog Training: What To Do When Treats Don’t Work

By: Oralia

Oralia — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 05:51:16 +0000

I have a very nervous 2 year old. He is easily scared with sudden movements and loud noises. After 2 years, it is still difficult to approach him with him jumping away. When he is scared, he cannot concentrate on treats. He is slightly reactive to other dogs and he ignores treats. I still try but it is difficult.

By: Cynthia Simpson

Cynthia Simpson — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:15:14 +0000

In reply to Courtney Cavaliere. I agree with Courtney. I understand positivity, but you truly did not answer the question. My dog is not food oriented. He likes it when I rub his belly which I do when he responds immediately to any command, but that is not enough. If it is a choice between chasing a squirrel or dog, he totally ignores me. I constantly am walking him and he is always on a leash. I can control him that way. Training a puppy is easy. I have done it before. I got a 2 year old rescue from the South. I have no idea what happened to him before I got him. I am consistent, but please answer the question. Thanks.

By: Courtney Cavaliere

Courtney Cavaliere — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 18:41:56 +0000

So, after this long article, where are the suggestions about how to train WITHOUT treats and “what to do”.?

By: donna goodsmith

donna goodsmith — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 18:47:37 +0000

In reply to Kelvin Tuttle. our lab was from a home she had lived in more than eight years. she won't stop humping and jumping. she wiggles so hard when you try to pet her that she ends up huting us. she doesn't play with toys or eat treats. she's good when we go for a walk or to the woods to run, but at home she is crazy. the vet can't find anything wrong. she will be 10 in september and we just don't see her slowing down. i feel the neighbors asked me to take her because she is out of control instead of their reason that they no longer had time for her.

By: Kelvin Tuttle

Kelvin Tuttle — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 16:47:22 +0000

As above no mention of what to do when your dog isn’t interested in treats. I have purchased a few of your books all of which are great but all mention food or a toy/fetch for a treat for training but my 3 year old cocker really isn’t interested in either just other dogs and running through undergrowth! And I’m struggling with distractions with but hes well trained indoors or in the garden. I dont understand how to train him around distractions when that’s all hes interested in!!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 09 May 2019 12:39:56 +0000

I have tried it, firstly with puppy training and she didn’t improve at all. She is not interested in treats and goes crazy over other dogs. My partner took her to adult positive training with treats and she was so out of control he left early. She is now 9 months and we haven’t done any trainig. I don’t want to punish her with other training but now she is out of control and wonder if it would be better than nothing as she is a very strong Staffy!

By: Jim S

Jim S — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 22:13:41 +0000

This is the single best dog training article for my situation that I have found. I’m training a tiny Yorkie puppy who has NO interest in food rewards (and I’ve tried everything).

Understanding that positive reinforcement training is still possible without food rewards is encouraging me to work harder on rewards she does like such as toys and praise. As I continue with her training, I’ll be more focused on looking for other ways to provide effective positive reinforcement during her training sessions. Thanks!

By: Elizabeth Morgan

Elizabeth Morgan — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 08:01:18 +0000

We ave tried all of the above suggestions and more with our 2 year old Newfoundland who runs to other people or dogs when we are out. Very social but terrifying for other people. Have to keep her on a halti although she has been known to drag us with her. she is very strong willed. We have tried lots of trainers and are now at a loss of what to do next.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 05:40:42 +0000

So helpfu! I hired a very reputable dog trainer to help me with my Husky. She told me to spray her w water when she got mouthy. This only made my dog growl and become aggressive (not her nature at all). I realized I was damaging our bond. I started putting essential oils on my hand and she quickly makes the choice on her own to chew on her toys not my arms.
I take her on walks every night and to the park. Our bond is so strong now.

I realized I was totally using food as a lure. When we pass a house with aggressive dogs, she freezes. Or tries to pull away trying to get out of her harness. Stressful and unsafe for us both. I will amp up the clicker training which she loves to include more distractions. So helpful to understand what needed to be changed!!

By: Miss Cellany

Miss Cellany — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 10:30:23 +0000

When my dog (gsd mix) won’t recall and is playing with another dog or off sniffing something and there’s no danger to her remaining off leash, I simply turn around and walk away. When I get far enough from her (and she realizes I’ve left her) she quickly drops everything and runs after me. She gets praised for coming back even though I had to coerce it by leaving.

Her emergency recall usually works when she’s chasing a rabbit or bird, and if not, when she’s gone far away enough and realizes I’m too far away she leaves it and returns.

She’ll never go more than about 50 – 100 m from me no matter how distracted (depending on line of sight / cover). And usually when we’re walking she’s within 10 – 20 m of me. Very different to my border collie who was happy to run off 500 m or more (though he always returned).