Dog Community

Over exuberant treat taking (i.e. watch those fingers!!)

Posted : 12/5/2006 11:41:21 AM

When Dasher and I are doing agility I use treats to reward behaviors (I also use the ball, but my question is treat related). I would love any advise to teach him not to take part of my fingers along with the treats. He knows (or at least seems to know) "easy" b/c at home he will be gentle. Even when we do agility in the yard he doesn't snatch. Its really only at class, seminars or shows, (i.e. when he is amped up) that my fingers start to pay the price. I want to reward him for the correct behavior (with regards to agility), but I don't want to encourage the snatching of food. So I guess what I am asking is if I enforce "easy" after he does something correct in agility will he get confused and not think he is being rewarded b/c the treat may be withheld for a bit until he doesn't snatch?

tashakota

Posted : 12/5/2006 12:01:37 PM

This seems to be a common problem in agility then. [

] I have the same issues with my dogs during training and such for agility. I can say "gentle" and they will be, but again, how is that a reward for the agility maneuver they just did? lol...

dasher

Posted : 12/5/2006 12:08:13 PM

Exactly my point!! Oh those rouge agility dogs!! [

] Maybe I should just wear mittens!! [

]

Ruth

Posted : 12/5/2006 12:26:18 PM

Can you just give him the treat by holding it in your flat, open palm? That can deter finger-nibbling b/c they can just lick it off your hand and don't need to go near the fingers.

Norie Kany

Posted : 12/5/2006 12:31:26 PM

I have had the same problem in the past even when NOT in agility. The open flat palm approach seems to work best for me too but I try to make mine SIT before she gets the treat.

tashakota

Posted : 12/5/2006 12:40:35 PM

I too try to have the treat in such a way that they do not have to "grab" my fingers as well! But it's tough. lol...

Dasher, I have a food tube that I got from cleanrun.com and it makes training in the cold a snap. I can dispense food by squeezing the tube together and shaking out a treat into a palm. I can do this with gloves or mittens on!!!

Course, then I have to wash the gloves but that's ok. Saves from frozen slobber fingers too! [

]

spiritdogs

Posted : 12/5/2006 1:02:50 PM

Two things to try:

At home, you can teach the dog the meaning of the word "easy". Hold a treat in your fist (make it something high value like roast beef). Let the dog sniff, mouth your hand, push and shove at will. BUT, when he backs off and takes his mouth away from your hand, that's when you open it and let him have the treat. Simultaneously, you say "easy". So, he learns that when you say "easy", you mean for him to back away, but that a treat will come if he does.

You can also prepare a treat that he can lap, rather than eat. You can use squeeze cheese, or squeeze peanut butter. Or, freeze a little meat baby food in a tupperware cup. That way, he gets a reward, but your fingers are out of the way.

Alisia Jezierny

Posted : 12/5/2006 1:04:39 PM

ORIGINAL: acesmom

Can you just give him the treat by holding it in your flat, open palm? That can deter finger-nibbling b/c they can just lick it off your hand and don't need to go near the fingers.

This is probably your best bet. My puppy always snatched treats used for obediance training, so as not to confuse her, her training rewards were always offered in a flat palm, while I taught "nice" (my command for not snatching treats) in seperate sessions, until she finally learned not to snatch.

tashakota

Posted : 12/5/2006 1:08:11 PM

So if they don't always take the treat "easy/gentle" then they don't know it? I guess I'm confused becasue if I say gentle, they will take it nicely because that's what I've taught. However, if I don't say that and we are in the midst of an active agility session, they get too excited and don't take the treats gently. So then if I have to stop and say gentle to them, are they being rewarded for being gentle? or for the nice weave they just did? And they only grab at treats when we're in the midst of an active session where I want them to be hyped up for motivation.... that's what I gathered is Dasher's problem as well from her post.

dasher

Posted : 12/5/2006 2:15:23 PM

ORIGINAL: tashakota
So then if I have to stop and say gentle to them, are they being rewarded for being gentle? or for the nice weave they just did? And they only grab at treats when we're in the midst of an active session where I want them to be hyped up for motivation.... that's what I gathered is Dasher's problem as well from her post.

You are right on the money tashakota[

] I think that is my dilemma. I will try the open palm that may work, I may end up dropping treats as I also train Dasher to "come to my hand" which is tough to do with an open palm, but I guess thats better than getting nipped. I will check out the clean run treat dispenser too! Thanks!

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs
At home, you can teach the dog the meaning of the word "easy". Hold a treat in your fist (make it something high value like roast beef). Let the dog sniff, mouth your hand, push and shove at will. BUT, when he backs off and takes his mouth away from your hand, that's when you open it and let him have the treat. Simultaneously, you say "easy". So, he learns that when you say "easy", you mean for him to back away, but that a treat will come if he does.

Thanks! that is actually exactly how I teach "easy"...and it works great..at home [

] Obviously we need to practice this more as when I "up the anty" he forgets himself. [8D] I also use easy cheese, Dasher LOVES this stuff. But it is a bit awkward to use during class, I usually save the easy cheese for after runs at a show. [

]

Scout in Canada

Posted : 12/5/2006 2:20:16 PM

Wow definitely having the same problem here! While working on loose leash walking, my fingers get nibbled and it really hurts after a while! The problem is, similar to what you are saying, I don't want to interrupt the flow of what I'm teaching & rewarding by saying "easy" and suddenly the whole instantaneous timing of the reward is gone (I think?).

I'll try the flat palm. It's hard to do during loose leash walking because the dog is behind/beside you, but the awkward arm twist iw worth not having my fingers stripped.

spiritdogs

Posted : 12/5/2006 5:13:34 PM

ORIGINAL: tashakota

So if they don't always take the treat "easy/gentle" then they don't know it? I guess I'm confused becasue if I say gentle, they will take it nicely because that's what I've taught. However, if I don't say that and we are in the midst of an active agility session, they get too excited and don't take the treats gently. So then if I have to stop and say gentle to them, are they being rewarded for being gentle? or for the nice weave they just did? And they only grab at treats when we're in the midst of an active session where I want them to be hyped up for motivation.... that's what I gathered is Dasher's problem as well from her post.

Clicker trainers never have to worry about this, because the click marks the behavior. But, you can do the same thing by saying "yes" to mark the nice weave, then deliver the treat (including the "easy" or "nice").