Treats? Mix it up a bit

Training tip: when giving treats, it's better if the dog is not sure exactly which treat is coming. Don't use the same stuff all the time. Make a "trail mix" of treats. My trail mix for E this afternoon consisted of 2 kinds of kibble, tiny bits of cheddar cheese, and tiny bits of Natural Balance (I cut the Natural Balance and the cheese into bits with a large chef's knife and keep it all in a plastic container. Each piece is about the size of a lentil. We're talkin' small! By keeping these treats all together, even the kibble absorbs some of the yummy flavor of the cheese and Natural Balance, giving it a higher value in the eyes of the dog.

In addition, it's best to "mix it up" when it comes to the way you deliver the treat. Sometimes, hand it directly to the dog. Sometimes toss it a few inches to the left. Sometimes toss it a few inches to the right. If your dog is likely to run after it, you can toss it low to the ground but far away, and let the dog chase after it. All of this makes it more interesting for the dog, and adds a variable that keeps them engaged in the game.

When the dog has accomplished something he's been struggling with, or when he does something that I really want him to notice, I give him a "jackpot"-- which could be a whole handful of treats. I save the jackpot to make a big point, because it makes a big impact on the dog.

Day 2

Dennis fed E a bit of kibble in his crate for breakfast, and took him out with our other dogs to eliminate. Back in the crate for a bit.

I got up and took him out again, to the fenced-off dog yard so I could let him offleash there. I walked around a bit to encourage him to go. He didn't need to go again. I went over the clean "safe to sit down" area, and sat on the ground. He hopped around like a colt, clearly wanting to initiate play. He gave a little bark, the first sound we've heard out of him at all. He trotted around the perimeter of the dog-yard, just burning off some steam (not trying to escape). He was clearly happy.

I encouraged him (very softly) to come to me, and slowly reached out and scratched his chest and then took his collar and clipped the leash to it. Again, I took him into my lap for a moment, and he loved it. I stroked him and praised him, and gently put him out of my lap so I could get up. He stopped for a long drink of water, and then back into the house and into the crate.

I confined my dogs so I could train E without the others clammoring for their turn. (Everyone loves a training session in this house). I took E outside to the back yard, where the distraction level is higher than where we've trained so far (2 different rooms in the house). We worked on eye contact again. He is very food motivated, so he loves this game. I was sitting on the ground, holding the plastic bin of treats. He pawed at it and tried to push my hand off the top with his nose. He gently took the rim with his teeth and tried to pull. He finally figured out that he could only get the treats if he earned them. But boy does he want them! There were lots of sounds (people walking by, a squirrel racing across the roof) so it was a big deal for him to keep the game up with all the distraction.

In clicker training, when we "raise the bar" of distraction, we lower the bar of the other criteria (length of time eye contact must be sustained). So in other words, because it was a more distracting spot, he only had to glance at me to earn a treat. Later, we'll make him sustain it for longer.

Back into his crate, and off to work for me. My husband is working from home today so we can ease E into having longer periods of time in the yard.