SearchHow to get Dobie to respond quicker
Snoopy is now just over 6 months old. Hes a pretty good puppy now and we aren't having too many puppy problems with him anymore. The thing I'm not sure with is how to get him respond quicker. If I have really good food then hes straight on it but of course it isn't always the case to have the best treats with you , if I don't he will still listen most of the time . One example is with the drop. He will drop but takes awhile to get down and isn't super motivated about it. At dog training he will do it but hes not that enthusing about it and isn't super focused like some of the others. Snoopy is a very placid dog , he will fire up but only if I run around with him which I avoid at the moment as then he likes to have a chew - on me- We always have treats at training but I think hes getting bored with this. Should I change to a toy and see how that works with him and what other ideas does anyone have to get him responding quicker.
Every dog is different and so every reward needs to be different. If food isn't really getting the response you want, try switching to a toy. I notice that Steve has started to test us on his tricks, so I pick moments to work with him when he's not as amped up and likely to be distracted. Try working with Snoopy after he's had a little walk to work out some of his energy and then use a treat that you know he wants. Switching treats up too might help. I have Charlie Bears for every day "listen to me now" sort of rewards and then I have these expensive salmon treats that when I open the bag all the dogs come running, all of them start sitting, laying down, barking, sneezing - giving me all their learned tricks.
For our friend's doberman, he is super toy motivated. He will do ANYTHING for his ball. So that is how they get him to do his tricks.
Keep going! It gets better.
Don't keep repeating yourself either - tell him once, the 2nd time you tell him make him do what you want so he knows he HAS to do it. Commands aren't optional and once he realized you mean it he will most likely comply....but rest assured he WILL give you an annoyed look and possibly an irritable sigh while he does it..:)
I have switched to a toy now and seem to get a better response. I think when we are actually at class he gets bored, It doesnt matter what treats I have after about 15mins hes over it. The toy seems to be working better. I had been trying to only ask him once and then if I wait him out he would eventually do it but thats not ideal every time. I joined a new club last week and they seem really good, more on the lines of you are the boss he does what you tell him where the other two clubs we were going to were along the line of oh bribe him with food for EVERYTHING . He seems to be going better at the new one. Not so bored. I might try and find some salmon treats as well as he goes nuts if he can get to the cat food so he may find that much more appealing.
I treat Rocky too but focusing too much on reward training with treats I think teaches them to do what you want ONLY for a treat. What if you don't have one? I always tried to alternate rewards with treats / praise & petting / toys and play that way they never learn to count on one.
I used to get really vocal with Q....giving heaps of excited praise, didnt worry me who was listening as long as my dog was. Of course cheese helps..Q will do anything for a smidgen of the stuff. Good luck 
I like to use verbal markers. That way you can pinpoint exactly what you're looking for. I also like to not always use treats for training, because it then becomes possible for your dog to become treat dependant. If he's working just for the treat, he's not going to listen so good when you don't have one. Once my dog understands a command, I start treating much more sporadically, until I'm eventually treating at the end of a session, not during. Example, while leash training... at first, almost constant treats for walking in heel position. Then treats for walking a certain distance... Eventually the treats come at the end of the walk, for good behavior. Or, while training obedience commands.... Sit... treat. sit, treat. lay down, treat. come, treat. After a while, it may become a string of 10 or 15 commands, and then a treat. Lots of praise, play, games, etc. worked in as rewards. I like to vary rewards so a dog doesn't become dependant on 1 particular reward. Keeps the dog working much harder, and gets them used to the idea that they're not going to get a tasty snack every time they do something.
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I think it's just a matter of consistency. They get it and they get it quick! Do they always want to change their plans and interests to sit, down, what ever...I think not. But if you will be firm and consistent in following through, eventually, it comes down to whose the boss.