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Old 08-12-2011, 08:37 AM   #3
QuickSilver
Thor's Human
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
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Try making it less obvious when you have food. Maybe have the treats in a bag nearby. Once a dog has a command down cold, you can start giving treats on a less regular basis. Maybe 1 out of every 4 times, you don't give her a treat, and after a while, 2. At some point, you should be able to only give her treats for those tricks in a blue moon. Research shows that a random recinforcement schedule is actually more effective than a treat every time.

That being said, I have a total mercenary on my hands, and he definitely moves a lot slower if he can't see a treat in the immediate vicinity.

You can also try rewarding her with other things. I don't give Thor his food until he Sits and Stays. I make him Sit/Stay when I open the door to the exciting, outdoor world. You can have her do a trick before you give her her favorite toy, maybe, or every time you throw a ball for her.
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