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Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly  Tibbe is the same. He will now go through his whole repertoire for a single treat at the end. Except I can't help but serial treat him then - usually 4 or 5 in a row. When I do good work, I expect a fat paycheck and I think he should be rewarded in kind! Still, to keep him excited and hopeful by the prospect and looking at it all as fun, occasionally only praise and/or a play session is offered so he doesn't come to expect a treat every time after doing his tricks.
But I fessed up on YT long ago that to this day Tibbe gets praised, told "Good boy", usually petted or scratched and treated almost every time he comes when called - and I get a little kiss on the leg or hand from him. Only very occasionally do I not treat but I always praise him. And he comes first call 99 99/100% of the time. Since he's got MVD and IBS, I have to just give him his prescription kibble for treats, plain or fixed or cooked various ways, but they are high-value to him. He acts like they are warm, boiled chicken or beef!!!
To tell you the truth, I think Tibbe would work now just to work. He's addicted to the training, all the fun activity, the learning process(he loves the term "new trick' and trying to figure out something new I want), the bonding that working together brings; and he lives to show off more than anything. He loves that he can do whatever I ask of him and preens through his due praise, looking me right in the eye as he takes it all in, usually dog-laughing all the while. He's very self-confident and proud of himself! And he was a broken, frightened dog when he first came here. |
It's such an amazing thing, isn't it? Jackson is the same... while he's super food motivated, he will work for me just to work. I just prefer giving him rewards for working. I have no problems wanting to keep him extra happy. To see his face light up when we sit down for training sessions, he's always ready, and the bond we have created through the years is amazing. I take it for granted sometimes when I see others struggling with their dogs to teach simple behaviors... sometimes you just have to get to the core of it all, and really 'connect' with your dog with more than simply a treat, a clicker, or whatever.