Fading out the treats

Hello my name is Fido and I'm addicted to eating treats during training. 4 easy steps to get your dog out of treat addiction. ALL training tools if used correctly should be in and out in Four weeks. This includes treats, Anti-pull tools like Front clip harnesses, Head collars, Prong/Pinch Collars and Choke Chains. If we fail to fade out the training tool it's a failure and becomes a crutch. Ask a little kid whats two+two they say four gold star for them. Ask an adult the same question get the same answer but we won't be handing out gold stars to them. Why? Because they already know it. We use rewards as a motivator to learn faster. But once we know the behavior we no longer need it.

First Step:

With training with treats, we use the treats as a lure to get the dog to achieve a certain behavior. The dog follows the treat into the right position. Teach the dog the hand command first, after 9 out of 10 successfully behaviors with only the hand command. Adding the verbal command next. Once your dog is successful with both hand and command you can move to Second Step.

Second Step:

Time to be picky, using treat free hands ask your dog to do the behavior. Put the treats in your pocket, table, behind you, etc.pretty much out of sight from your dog. In this step you should reward your dog about 50% of the time. More you're being to picky less you're being too hard. Only reward the behaviors you like, for example Quick sits, Square sits, Cute sits, whatever you find appealing. Avoiding the slow and sloppy sits. Once your dog starts to give more than 50% of the wanted sits, start to combine the sits, like fast sit and square sits. Your dog will soon learn some behaviors work and some don't.

Third Step:

Take your time with this step. Be careful not to rush to this step. This step you will be removing treats completely and exchanging for life rewards, walks, toys, petting, dinner anything that motivates your dog besides treats. If your dog doesn't find it motivating it's not a reward. Sometimes high rewards in one place may not be high in another. Ask your dog for a behavior if he does what you're looking for give a life reward. Examples: Ask for a sit-down-sit on a walk, then continue on the walk. Sit-stay before you enter a dog park, Sit before throwing the ball, so your dog learns you might not have food on you, but you control the fun things in life.

Fourth and final step:

This step will come on its own. If you did step two and step three at, a correct pace, your dog now wants to do the behavior vs I have to do the behavior.

Ask someone who hates to run to run a mile, mostly they will fight it or take forever to get started. Its like pulling teeth. Now ask someone who loves to run to run a mile, no questions asked, they get up and do it maybe they're even ready to do it before you ask. This how you want your dog to react to a behavior

Using reward base training your dog learns to enjoy learning vs. learning out of fear. I'm not saying those methods ('dominant' techniques) don't work,cause sadly they do that's why they've been round for so long. But learning should be fun for both the human and the dog. Learning should build a bond. Learning shouldn't hurt.


Other Hints:

• Don't be afraid to give Jackpots in step Two. Three - six treats back to back for wonderful awesome behaviors. Your dog is more likely to repeat that behavior again.
• If your dog "forgets" the behavior don't be afraid to use the treats again but fade them out just as quickly. Sometimes its doesn't hurt to have a refresher.
• Any time you add anything new, like distance, distraction or duration reintroduce the treats. Thanks for putting up with me doing 'x' heres a treat.