Rewards: Food vs. Toy

[corbinam]

Alright, I tried working with just a toy, no cookies. It seemed to work! Lexi chased it like a champ! She even barked at me when she wanted me to throw it!

I think part of it is me getting over my mindset that cookies > toys. I felt a bit like I would be short changing her by not using cookies, but she honestly seemed to have a great time. (I'm using it for the 2x2 weave training).

Oh, and I used this: http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1669&ParentCat=29 but with my husband's sock in it! Lexi has a penchant for dirty socks...and it seemed to work!

 

[Toffee's Mom]

Alright, I tried working with just a toy, no cookies. It seemed to work! Lexi chased it like a champ! She even barked at me when she wanted me to throw it!

I think part of it is me getting over my mindset that cookies > toys. I felt a bit like I would be short changing her by not using cookies, but she honestly seemed to have a great time. (I'm using it for the 2x2 weave training).

Oh, and I used this: http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1669&ParentCat=29 but with my husband's sock in it! Lexi has a penchant for dirty socks...and it seemed to work!

HAHAHAHHAHA
PERFECT
it's seriously just about to find what could work with our quirky, silly dogs
I LOVE it, poor Jonathan is missing yet another sock

 

[corbinam]

HAHAHAHHAHA
PERFECT
it's seriously just about to find what could work with our quirky, silly dogs
I LOVE it, poor Jonathan is missing yet another sock

He makes a lot of sacrifices for the pups...if he actually has matching socks, usually at least one of them has a little hole in it!

 

[SheltieChe]

well, now that a serious advice here. If you do not mind I will post it on recallers forum we have entire section for people to discuss how their tugging going. Many people on recallers started from zero tugging and now are happy campers. here is SG list of tug toys so we should add this one
http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2009/03/61-unique-tug-toy-ideas/
here are some thoughts on how to kill tug drive and I for one am guilty at it, when Che was a puppy and was not much interested in toys/tugs I did not push thru....
http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2009/03/tug-drive/
some comments are funny too
I am working Che's tugging and we are getting there, he is getting to be more and more enthused by game of tug, we good in the house but in the dog park and at agility it is still 50/50.
Also if you planning on tugging session, you need to get first blood flowing and heart rate up, so general chase me run and then tug works best.

 

[corbinam]

well, now that a serious advice here. If you do not mind I will post it on recallers forum we have entire section for people to discuss how their tugging going. Many people on recallers started from zero tugging and now are happy campers. here is SG list of tug toys so we should add this one
http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2009/03/61-unique-tug-toy-ideas/
here are some thoughts on how to kill tug drive and I for one am guilty at it, when Che was a puppy and was not much interested in toys/tugs I did not push thru....
http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2009/03/tug-drive/
some comments are funny too
I am working Che's tugging and we are getting there, he is getting to be more and more enthused by game of tug, we good in the house but in the dog park and at agility it is still 50/50.
Also if you planning on tugging session, you need to get first blood flowing and heart rate up, so general chase me run and then tug works best.

That article about killing tug drive was interesting. Thanks for sharing!

I am able to get Bentley tugging by getting him really worked up. He jumps around, barking, etc...I then just shove a toy in his mouth. He ends up tugging, by default, but he just doesn't "get it". It's almost like he doesn't know what he's doing. Maybe I'll try to get a video to share.