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How can I teach my dog to be obedient even when I don't have treats?

Posted : 3/19/2010 2:05:25 PM

My beagle/pug mutt, Sophie is so smart. She is a problem solver and she knows a LOT of tricks, but she will only do them if she knows shes gonna get a treat. Mostly I want to teach her to come to me when she is called. When she sees something interesting or when she escapes out the fence she ignores me. I call her name and she will turn around and look directly at me them keep on going. I also have chickens and I let them free range sometimes. She has the urge to chase them and she wants to "play" with them and smell them, but as long as I am outside to supervise, she doesn't really go by them as much. Which is kind of wierd because she listens to me then. I just say "Sophie" or "hey, come here" and she leaves them alone and comes to me. But other than that she just ignores me.

One time in particular we went to the mountains (I made sure she had a leash on while we were there). When we were getting read to leave, I put her in the truck and took off her leash. I forgot something so I went to open the door to get it and she bolted out and took off up the mountain and out of sight. I called her name over and over and ran after her to get her. She saw a quad coming and then ran back to the truck. This was extremely dangerous because there were a lot of quads and dirt bikes that were driving fast and recklessly. She could have gotten run over.

I want Sophie to respond to her name and it would be nice if she didn't run off everytime she gets off leash. How can I teach her to come when she is called without me having to always carrying around treats? Especially in emergencies, I can't and won't always have treats in my hand. I want Sophie to be safe and I want to take her more places without me worrying about her to get hurt and running off. I was thinking that I could have like a codeword or a type of whistle or "pss pss!". Also, when she finally does come back I never know whether I should praise her or yell at her. I don't yell at her because I don't want her to think that coming back is bad, but I don't want to praise her for not coming when I call her. What should I do and how can I train her to be more obedient?

aerial1313

Posted : 3/19/2010 5:47:21 PM

I highly recommend you get the Really Reliable Recall DVD: http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTB810P

It's designed to teach an emergency recall, but will also strengthen your normal everyday recall. It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny. Also remember the key is to be patient, be consistent, proof a lot, and then you can phase out the treats.

Good luck!

spiritdogs

Posted : 3/19/2010 7:09:24 PM

I also like that video, and would suggest you get it. If you want to do some lessons, step by step, there's a nice web site with very good suggestions: www.clickerlessons.com, or you could buy Peggy Tillman's book, "Clicking With Your Dog" which is also a good beginner resource for obedience training.

When a dog doesn't do a behavior unless it sees a treat, it's a bribe, not a reward. Probably, you just didn't learn how to fade the food rewards correctly.

http://www.lakenormandogtraining.com/Fading%20Food.htm

griffinej5

Posted : 3/19/2010 10:12:02 PM

spiritdogs

When a dog doesn't do a behavior unless it sees a treat, it's a bribe, not a reward. Probably, you just didn't learn how to fade the food rewards correctly.

There is no such word in behavior analysis as bribe. It's still a reinforcer, however, your dog has just learned to discriminate this condition. Basically, your dog thinks, if I have seen treats, and I hear the recall word, I will get treats when I come. If I have not seen treats, and I hear the recall word, I will get nothing. So, make it unpredictable where your treats are coming from, and don't let her know whether or not you have them. My dog is a ball nut, so I will sometimes just tuck a ball in my pocket.

One of the things we were instructed to do early on in puppy class was lots of quick recalls around the house. Like, 100 times a day. I just used my dog's food for this. I carried it around with me, and called him throughout the day. Whatever wasn't done by dinner I gave him in his dish.

spiritdogs

Posted : 3/20/2010 7:13:23 AM

griffinej5
spiritdogs

When a dog doesn't do a behavior unless it sees a treat, it's a bribe, not a reward. Probably, you just didn't learn how to fade the food rewards correctly.

There is no such word in behavior analysis as bribe. It's still a reinforcer, however, your dog has just learned to discriminate this condition. Basically, your dog thinks, if I have seen treats, and I hear the recall word, I will get treats when I come. If I have not seen treats, and I hear the recall word, I will get nothing. So, make it unpredictable where your treats are coming from, and don't let her know whether or not you have them. My dog is a ball nut, so I will sometimes just tuck a ball in my pocket.
One of the things we were instructed to do early on in puppy class was lots of quick recalls around the house. Like, 100 times a day. I just used my dog's food for this. I carried it around with me, and called him throughout the day. Whatever wasn't done by dinner I gave him in his dish.

*I* know it's a reinforcement, but the average pet owner thinks of it as a bribe, and perhaps it's better if they do, at first, because it helps them remember the difference between showing the food first and giving it to the dog after they get the behavior. As people get more in to training, they may get more in to the terminology, but it's been my experience that helping them just get it right so that the dog behaves is what they want in the beginning.