The use of food for training...

I am constantly surprised at how people are concerned when using food to reward a dog for desirable behaviour. I hear terms such as 'Bribery' and 'Corruption'. It's neither!
We all do things for a reward. You wouldn't go to work for free would you?

Not all dogs are food motivated of course, so we may need to find another motivator such as a toy or a simple praise-worthy voice and a chest rub (we all like one of those).

So many people struggle needlessly with trying to get a dog to walk to heel, or to recall when asked, and avoid food for whatever reason. If it works, use it!

It doesn't need to be rubbish food either. Many a dog would be motivated for a slice of carrot, or a slither of dried fruit (avoid grapes). Up the ante maybe and look to use small chicken cubes, ham, or sausages. Keep them as small as you can. Some treats are very well suited for pinching and holding by you between your thumb and forefinger. This can make a treat last anything up to 30 seconds as the dog works it out of your fingers as you squeeze and release it gradually. This may not be possible for a greedy dog!

I have a few clients at present going the whole hog with the use of food, and they are actually offering the dog's meal (dried kibble is most common, but a switch to Nature Diet will often turn a picky eater on) when out for the recall or even reforming a habitual and serious lead puller!
Satisfying the basic drive of hunger can transform how a dog sees you if you are having leadership issues in general, and coming back to you, or staying close with heel work can be made so much easier when the dog is getting some very serious rewarding.

So, use food by all means, but as the behaviour is looking sound then seek to reduce it by alternate rewards, then reward the very best position or fastest of recalls, then drop the food with an occasional reward to keep the interest there. I will use food throughout the whole life of a dog on a periodic basis to ensure adequate interest and reward....can't go making a dog redundant can we? ;)

Should you wish to talk to me regarding your dog's behaviour, you can contact me here: http://www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk/

A long line...your saviour?

It's pretty common for me to place a long line on a dog to create a far higher level of control for the owner, and to allow interruption of unwanted behaviour should it happen.

The long line is a god-send for owners of dogs that don't recall when called.

Typically I make up a 20metre line with a regular dog lead clip on one end, and a simple looped handle on the other. Some go for the thick flat corded type of line that can be knotted to create 'stops', but I prefer a 5-6mm line that remains light even when wet, allowing the dog to drag it without hindrance.

With really young dogs people seem determined to let them off to run freely without having put in place adequate measures for them returning when called. Place your pup on the long line for the first few weeks, and keep recalling using high value treats to reward each return. Any ignoring of your calls can be dealt with by a light tug of the line to remind the dog of your presence. THEN you can begin to introduce more freedom when your trust is there, and the dog associates your calling with an immediate response to look to you and recall. My little Pip stops like a twanged ruler when I call her...simply due to doing the above from an early age with plenty of repetition. It's not hard...you can do this too :)

Keep it simple.
Keep it fun.

Should you wish to talk to me regarding your dog's behaviour, you can contact me here: http://www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk/