treats when heeling?

Question

Is it bad to give dogs treats when you are training them to heel? at petsmart we werent alowed to use the clicker/treats when heeling and its the only thing my dog cant do.

when i have treats he pays attention to me when were walking...

the other things i have taught him with treats he now does without getting treats, so i dont see why i cant initially give him treats to heel and then slowly take the treats away

Answer 1

No it is not BAD, especially if you have been using a clicker method to train your dog. He/she probably doesn't understand what behavior you are trying to mark if he doesn't hear the click.

If you are using the clicker method to teach heel (aka loose leash walking) then every time you Click - your dog should get a treat!

I don't know why you were not allowed to use the Click/Treat in class for heel. You begin by clicking and treating for attention, then position ,then every few steps that are taken correctly - in position on the left side with a loose leash.

Move out using whatever work you choose for "walk". Click and treat every few steps that the dog remains in position. Do not pull on the leash. If dog pulls, stand still and wait for the dog to come back to you, then click treat and begin again.

As soon as the dog can go several steps in position, then begin to spread out he clicks and treats. They don't happen so often, and they happen at random., so the dog doesn't know when the click/ treat is coming. He/she may have to walk half a block on a loose leash before the click treat.

Begin to phase out the click/treat with a verbal reinforcer such as "yes" good puppy.

You will not have to use treats the rest of your life to take a walk with your dog, but the click and treat normally makes the dog more eager to try something new. Mine get all excited when we get the clicker out. It means good things are coming if they can figure out what I want.

After they have learned a behavior, they sometimes get a treat just to reinforce a good job. They do not expect it.

Loose leash walking takes some time and patience. It may take a little longer with a click/treat than with a negative method, but it is worth it

Answer 2

Greekman and I respect each other, at the same time, we do things a little differently.

Treats should NOT be used to constantly get the dog to do what you want it to do. You are not BRIBING the dog to do what you want.

I use treats in the following way.

Introduce a concept. I'll stick with heeling. Treat is absolutely in front of the dog's nose, to get the dog to understand what the word heel means. If I came up to you, pulled on the lead and said, "Farfegnuggen" you'd have no idea what I meant. That's the idea of "introducing a concept".

From there you go to teaching the concept. Once the dog is heeling in the general area, you can then go to less, and less food and using the collar/leash more to get the dog where you want it to be.

Next step is proofing the concept. This is done with a dog that UNDERSTANDS what heeling is all about. First step is elimination of all food being used a lures. The only food that the dog MIGHT get is after the dog has preformed the exercise correctly, also praise the dog. This is the point where you will start adding distractions into the exercise. Any treats or rewards such as praise are given after the exercise, but only randomly. Heeling while someone else is bouncing a ball.

You want to get to the point where the dog is never certain whether the dog is going to get a treat, or not. Might do something 10 times and the dog only gets a treat at the sixth time.

Answer 3

Treats are good for teaching a behavior. But, your dog has to learn to respond w/o getting treats all the time. Give treats with praise. When your dog has learned what you want from him, begin to reduce then eliminate treats. But still give praise. Your dog will have to learn to heel because you want him to. Not because he is going to get a treat. Follow the method of your trainer on this. You will be so glad you did. A well trained dog is a pleasure to own.

Answer 4

Our agility dogs were trained with treats. Now, if you have seen agility on tv you will have noticed the dogs are racing around the course, fast, happy. Treats are not allowed in the ring in competition.

Treats are training aids. As mentioned, to lure, to show what it is you want the dog to do and to reward the dog.

Gradually you diminish the frequency of the treats. Voila!

I tell our students to ask themselves a question, "Why would my dog want to..?" Answer: because they get good things for dogs! They learn working with you reaps rewards! It usually is treats, sometimes throwing a ball, a pet, praise..and usually a combination of all the above.

Same with people! Praise, a paycheck, a bowl of ice cream

My "mentor" in dogs (got my first Shetland Sheepdog from her in 1967) was a breeder, obedience trainer, obedience competitor and obedience judge. Several years ago we met again, and she and her daughter (who followed in her Mom's footsteps and is an obedience trainer) started agility classes with us. Both were VERY skeptical of using treats in training and the daughter, in particular, was a bit hard headed about it. I have had other students who bucked it too.

Well, they ALL changed their tunes! Why? 'Cause it works!

Answer 5

Will you have a treat with you the day he bolts and runs across that busy street? Treats are ok when imprinting a young puppy, but, corrections is what a dog needs after he has learned a behavior and does not do it on command. I have used treats my self, although I prefer a toy, but, I know, in the end you need to have a dog that has been proofed in order to be trusted.

Answer 6

Forget the treats! Praise and a pet will do so much better. When the dog does what you want it is better to say "good dog" and pet them. I have trained dogs to do everything, even to follow hand signals without every giving them a treat.
Praise is so much better. It is teaching the dog you love them for what they did not a way to get food. Give them a treat when you get home after the training to let them know "you did good".

Answer 7

Sometimes you just have to do what works with your dog. I have a husky and she only paid attention for treats too. She turned out fine. She got it. Same as other tricks, take away the treats after they start doing it each time.

Answer 8

I dont see why not, I have trained many dogs competed in obedience. the main thing is to keep your dog engaged and interested, if you hold a treat in you hand and give him it to him at random times, it will keep his attention on you (your hand, mainly!) just be sure to give it ot him only when he is heeling correctly.