Training and Treats
I’ve been giving him small treats and praise when he obeys the command. How long should I keep giving him treats when he sits, or stays, etc…? Thanks. |
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| Start by slowly decreasing the frequency that you give treats. Instead of giving him one everytime that he sits start giving him one every other time. Then, every third time. You can slowly start phasing out treats in lieu of praise. Make sure you mix it up though. I think they are smart enough to count and will soon figure out that every 4th sit is the money sit!
Once he gets used to just sitting on command you should still treat on occassion otherwise he could get lazy. |
| I don't use treats for training often, and if I do it is always random, the only times they "know" they get a treat for sure is after patiently laying on the grooming table for an hour or three...lol... then when I put them down they go straight for the treat jar.... |
Maxmm wrote: Make sure you mix it up though. I think they are smart enough to count and will soon figure out that every 4th sit is the money sit! I didn't realize it, but as I trained my first female OES, I was repeating commands in the same order. duh?? 
#1 If I had an empty hand and said "SIT," she'd sit. #2 If I had a treat that she liked, and said "SIT," she'd sit. #3 If I had a treat in my hand that she "loved," and said sit, she'd sit. BUT, "while" I was giving her the 2nd command, #4 she had sat, laid down, rolled over, returned to the sitting position and was ready #5 to shake hands! They count, they memorize and while we think we're training them, they somehow they turn things around, and they're the ones training us.  |
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They can count allright. Show them 3 treats, give them only 2 and you'll see what happens. Ours also learned the days of the week. They know that we're out to work 5 days in the week, then 2 days we stay home for the mornings. You should see their reaction when we have a long weekend or something to do in the weekend mornings! |
| Thanks for the advice, all. We've only been giving him treats every third time or so. He's a smart one my Frodo. |
| Saulmr, you are so right about knowing the days of the week. Maggie knows precisely when it's Sunday, the day we go to Wendy's for chicken nuggets. She starts pacing and following us around waiting for us to get ready and put her car harness on. She waits patiently in the car while we have dinner because she knows there's a treat waiting for her. She has trouble during the summer waiting until it cools down enough to leave her and Nelson Jr. in the car safely. I think little Nelson is learning her "bad" habit and will grow up to expect the same routine. |
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