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Originally Posted by docmartin  I've tried this before as its been a tendency with her we've noticed. I don't really want to 'buy' affection with treats. We'll be alone together tomorrow and apart from feeding her lunchtime, I intend to let her make the running. If there's no change, then I suppose she's just mummy's girl and that's that, a shame for me, but at least she'll be happy. |
Providing food to a dog isn't buying affection. If the dog doesn't like you, all the treats in the world won't work to bring about affection. But treating a dog will help speed up her trust in you for your providing what she sees as nutrition and food and if you are a person she can trust, she will come to love you in her own time. Dogs value food in a far different way than we do, most will take it almost anytime - hungry or not - and those that dispense this vital need in their lives become caregivers and providers in their minds and, as such, it is a quicker way to get a dog who is otherwise perhaps uncomfortable around someone to look at them in a different way.
Think of it this way - treats and food are words to dogs. With a person, you can use easy conversation of funny stories, kind words, or flattery to break the ice but with a dog, food is often is used in place of words to communicate your care, consideration and kindness that they understand far better than words. It is a basic concept saying I am helping you stay alive and to a dog, that has far more meaning than talking or even stroking with hands at first when the dog is getting comfortable with you. Once a stand-offish dog decides to like you, then you can use your hands and other ways to communicate with them but early on, providing food is the way to a dog's trust in you.