I've been thinking about my training with Zeke and racking my brain trying to figure out how to do more advanced tricks. If I could figure out how to channel his intelligence, I think trick training would be a wonderful way to keep his mind entertained. Zeke is not food motivated by any means. He doesn't like treats.
Now mind you, I don't mean he's just picky(which he is). This dog rarely takes treats even at random. And luring?? HA! That's a concept that I am wondering if he will ever learn. He's happy to eat his meals, but it's very slowly. He doesn't care to work for it---if he doesn't get to eat, so be it. He's got his tennis balls...he's got his family to snuggle with...who needs food? That's no exaggeration--he would probably lose 10 pounds before he would even consider working for his food. It's not that he's not intelligent. By far, he's the smartest dog I have ever worked with. He's a canine Einstein in a furry black-and-white package. His littermates were food and toy motivated--they'd do anything for anything, so long as it involved...well, reward of some kind. A good snuggle was more than satisfactory. But Z just takes no interest in food. I even once tried to teach him to take treats by clicking for interest in the treat. I tried clicking for interest in the treat and then tossing a tennis ball--combining his toy motivation with clicker training. So I had a $30 tub of treats...who cares, that 99 cent tennis ball is the best thing on God"s green earth!
He knows basics--sit, down, stay, a terrible recall, a flawless retrieve, shake, high-five, directed jumping, back, and walking well on a leash--thanks to the Gentle Leader, my first experience with one. Beyond that, we're just not getting anywhere. He'll fetch a tennis ball, but I can't lure him with one. We do a little bit of agility just as a hobby--he learned by watching Rusty, my very food-motivated Rottie mix. I did no training at all...he watched, he did it, great! I've tried treat after treat after teat. Freeze-dried liver(initially, lots of interest!), Pupperoni, cooked chicken, sliced apple, sliced carrot, kibble, WalMart brands, Petsmart brands, PetCo brands, expensive, cheap, whatever--if it's been on a shelf it's been in my house. The one thing he hasn't had a go at is rolled dog food--used it with Mud before but not Z. Honestly, I think I would get an initial reaction but nothing beyond that.
I'm not at my wit's end, but I just wanted to see if anyone has any stories or advice with working with entirely toy motivated dogs. Z's been this way since he was a pup--everything he knows now was rewarded with praise when he was a pup--yes, this means me "putting" him into a position. Yes, I claim to be a positive trainer, but this was the only way with Zeke. He was never uncomfortable by any means, and he enjoyed training thoroughly. He learned at amazing speeds and I don't regret anything I did with him. He liked it and was never unhappy. It wasn't until Mud came along that he realized how fun tennis balls were, and then he was hooked. He's always looooved snuggly stuffed animals but has never wanted to work for them. So...ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? Rants? Anything? :dogsmile:
Now mind you, I don't mean he's just picky(which he is). This dog rarely takes treats even at random. And luring?? HA! That's a concept that I am wondering if he will ever learn. He's happy to eat his meals, but it's very slowly. He doesn't care to work for it---if he doesn't get to eat, so be it. He's got his tennis balls...he's got his family to snuggle with...who needs food? That's no exaggeration--he would probably lose 10 pounds before he would even consider working for his food. It's not that he's not intelligent. By far, he's the smartest dog I have ever worked with. He's a canine Einstein in a furry black-and-white package. His littermates were food and toy motivated--they'd do anything for anything, so long as it involved...well, reward of some kind. A good snuggle was more than satisfactory. But Z just takes no interest in food. I even once tried to teach him to take treats by clicking for interest in the treat. I tried clicking for interest in the treat and then tossing a tennis ball--combining his toy motivation with clicker training. So I had a $30 tub of treats...who cares, that 99 cent tennis ball is the best thing on God"s green earth!
He knows basics--sit, down, stay, a terrible recall, a flawless retrieve, shake, high-five, directed jumping, back, and walking well on a leash--thanks to the Gentle Leader, my first experience with one. Beyond that, we're just not getting anywhere. He'll fetch a tennis ball, but I can't lure him with one. We do a little bit of agility just as a hobby--he learned by watching Rusty, my very food-motivated Rottie mix. I did no training at all...he watched, he did it, great! I've tried treat after treat after teat. Freeze-dried liver(initially, lots of interest!), Pupperoni, cooked chicken, sliced apple, sliced carrot, kibble, WalMart brands, Petsmart brands, PetCo brands, expensive, cheap, whatever--if it's been on a shelf it's been in my house. The one thing he hasn't had a go at is rolled dog food--used it with Mud before but not Z. Honestly, I think I would get an initial reaction but nothing beyond that.
I'm not at my wit's end, but I just wanted to see if anyone has any stories or advice with working with entirely toy motivated dogs. Z's been this way since he was a pup--everything he knows now was rewarded with praise when he was a pup--yes, this means me "putting" him into a position. Yes, I claim to be a positive trainer, but this was the only way with Zeke. He was never uncomfortable by any means, and he enjoyed training thoroughly. He learned at amazing speeds and I don't regret anything I did with him. He liked it and was never unhappy. It wasn't until Mud came along that he realized how fun tennis balls were, and then he was hooked. He's always looooved snuggly stuffed animals but has never wanted to work for them. So...ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? Rants? Anything? :dogsmile:
If I could find a treat he would go for, I could probably help him learn how fun all toys are, instead of just tennis balls.