Non-Food Training Rewards?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jackdoodle is not food motivated. I have yet to find any kind of treat that consistently excites him. He really couldn't care less if he gets a treat or not, most of the time. Even the really expensive liver treats don't do it for him. (Of course, if I could carry fresh broiled salmon or roast beef around with me, that might work, but obviously it isn't practical.)

This makes it hard to motivate him, get his attention, or reward him for correct responses in training.

For other owners of non-food motivated dogs, have you found effective ways of motivating/rewarding your dogs during training? Ideas, anyone?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am going to make it a goal. I am afraid he is going to bite someone if his protectiveness/fear agression/reactiveness/whatever-it-is continues to escalate. My grandson's friends are entering adolescence and don't look like kids any more. They walk into my house all the time.
Keep the advice and encouragement coming.

[Adina P]

Okee dokee. Ra Rah Rah...Sis Boom Ba....Gooooo Karen and Jack! You can do it!

I'd like to hear our token poodle lady's (Carol) suggestions...she does obedience with her dogs and might know people or people who know people worth recommending in Chicago.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

How funny is this picture.....JD with his CGC and Murph with his TDI certification. I KNOW we can do it, Karen! We can, and we WILL. Murph is going to his first Therapy Class on Sunday...while on Saturday we're doing a private "remedial" session. Heaven help me! How fun that we'll be going through this together...I'm guessing there will be lots of pretty funny posts as we take the "journey".

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Karen, Vern started a new obedience class last week and in the class is a Great Dane. The owner said she rescued this dog and she is about 8 months. When I read this post, it reminded me of this dog. I am "softie" when it comes to dog training. I have never been a good disciplinarian with my kids or my dogs...in fact, my oldest used to always tell me it would help if I would stop laughing when I was disciplining them. But, I have two great girls, so maybe I did something right or just got lucky. Anyway, I am no dog expert either, but watching this Great Dane in class breaks my heart. In my head, I know the training is needed for such a large dog, but she is so afraid and it is obvious someone did something really bad to her along the way. When I compare goofy Vern, who has been loved his whole short life, with this dog, who is just about the same age, it breaks my heart. Our trainer is wonderful and her owner seems kind and fair, but this dog is so worried that she is displeasing someone when they work with her, that she just shrinks and makes herself small and I can hardly watch. My heart takes over and I just feel bad. I admire people who can work through this, but I am not one of them. I know my limitations and if that were my dog, I would be so sympathetic to it, that I would not be able to make her do one darn thing. When we rescued an old lab, she had so many issues, and I struggled everyday with making myself do the things I needed to do to try and help her. She was the toughest dog I ever had, because I was so torn all the time with trying to help her and feeling sorry for her. The toughest dog I ever had!!! When I read your posts, all I can say is, I know exactly where you are coming from with Jack and I am sure he ended up right where he is supposed to be.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I can't thank you enough for this post. You expressed exactly what I have not been able to say about Jack. Yes, it is the same situation as the Dane: "...this dog is so worried that she is displeasing someone when they work with her, that she just shrinks and makes herself small and I can hardly watch...if that were my dog, I would be so sympathetic to it, that I would not be able to make her do one darn thing."
Yep. That's it. He is so afraid of making a mistake, it just wrenches my heart. I think the reason he went 36 hours without eliminating when I got him was because he wasn't sure where it would be safe to "go". Sometimes he gets into a playful mood- not "zoomies", exactly, but maybe a tiny, subdued version of zoomies...and then all of a sudden he'll stop cold and kind of hunker down, as if he's afraid he'll get in trouble for having forgotten himself and frolicked like a normal dog.
That he is so extremely well-behaved 95% of the time is testament to his wonderful temperament, but sadly, I think it's also partially due to fear.
Thank you for your kind words and understanding.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

You are very welcome.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Karen, I was thinking again about this post tonight during Vern's training class. The Great Dane that I referred to in my earlier post has made great strides. She is like the star of the class and you can tell her owner is working with her constantly. She is huge and tries to sit on her owner's lap and their bond seems very strong. The Great Dane looks to her constantly for reinforcement, but she seems to have developed more confidence. Even when the trainer works with her, she is not shrinking as much and wags her tail, plus she gets very excited when this adorable dog named Bentley is around and it is nice to see her so playful. Oh, and the trainer did recommend a prong collar for her because of her size and she does not seem in the least bit upset about the collar. Just thought maybe you would like an update.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks for the update, it's great to know the Great Dane is developing more confidence!

[Linda and Murphy]

Karen, the Welsh Springer Spaniel that Murphy was with last weekend is about 3. He was raised in home for the first 6 mos then sent away to train for 3 mos. He has never been the same dog.
Prior to this weekend, he was always so focused on Murphy that I couldn't see it. This time he would come up to me very submissively and roll over on his back for petting. I would try to pet his head like I do Murphy and he would cower like I was about to strike him. They said he had been like that since coming back from his first training.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I remember when my brother went to pick up his Lab from Boot Camp. I went too, because I was very curious. This trainer never used food as a reward. He used eye contact and praise, and when the dog didn't comply with the command he turned his back on the dog (withholding any eye contact). When the dog then followed the command (and she usually did pretty quickly after that response), there was the praise, and I even watched him bend down to the dog's level to pet her and tell her "good girl". For him, that worked, and he was certainly able to make a huge impact on a very "naughty" Lab who is now a "model".

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Our trainer taught us to always vary our reward. So I would say Peri gets a treat about 1/2 the time, the other 1/2 she gets "yes, what a goooood girl" and a scratch behind the ears - this makes her so excited she smiles (she gets the yes good girl every time, even with a treat). She loooves being pet behind the ears and she has always responded to our high voice and good girl phrases. So if there is something similar that Jack just adores you doing, that would be what I would do. Now we are still using the halty and when she is head up and focused and sits on walks, etc....she gets that GOOD GIRL and scratches - NO treats. I am pretty sure she knows she is being good because she smiles :) Our voice variances have really helped train her to know when we are happy vs. mad at her.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think this is great!