Treats as rewards .

[Whoopydofoxpoo]

My dog is a breed that is food orientated so food teats as a reward are great , she also often has to have medication that we can't give her in her food. When she has to have this medication I call her to sit - allows me to give it to her then she has a small food reward .

Anyway has visitors on Monday - dog had to have her medication - she sat as usual , allowed me to administer it and got her food treat . Anyway I made a passing comment about being so good about it and got the reply from the visitors - 'she only does it because of the food ' - well yes that's the point - she does it because she knows that she will get something good at the end - dont really see a problem with giving treats like that.

These visitors also have a dog that is food orientated but have never seen them give her a food treat as a reward (and wonder why she has crap recall.)

I know that food rewards are not the be all and end all but surely if a dog responds to it what is the harm (taking into account that it comes out of their daily food allowance) or must dogs do stuff just to please ?

I use food! I rarely use it with my older dog but she responds to it she's well trained and happy. Every other month or so I'll bring some out but I have no issues with anything she does. I also use it with my puppy and she's also getting quite good. Sadly she's been really poorly but yes all her medicine was given with food and I didn't care!! Her trainings back on track and yes food is used as a reward x

I don't see the problem with using food in a situation like that - if it works, and you get the medication into her, surely that's all that matters! .

I used treats to teach recall as well, I thought that was fairly normal. It's a bit different as I do expect my dog to come back when I call even if I don't have treats with me! I don't kid myself he's doing it 'to please' though, I think it's half habit/conditioning, half the hope that this time I might have something for him!

Do we not do this with our children to? If you take the nasty medicine you can have a chocolate button or at least I do.

I always use food when teaching something new or expecting something difficult (like having paws dried). It's only a piece of kibble each time. But you can fade it out eventually, or use other rewards like play.

Ignore your visitors! Dog sounds lovely.

Use food and have a well trained dog and ignore your friends!

What's their point?

If you've a dog that does things for praise, that's still a reward, she'd only be doing it then to get the praise.

Do you get dogs that understand the concept of taking medication?

Of course it's fine to use a treat as a reward in that situation.
What did the visitors expect you to use? A doggy points/star system?

Love it ! A doggy star chart - thanks all !

Whoopy, maybe the point your friends are making is that it is ok to treat with food on occasion (like taking medication), but not for all training...

I share their perspective to an extent. I sometimes think it is the easy way to train with food, and not sure it is the most effective bonding method after a certain age. I mean, at some point you stop giving children star/reward charts and expect them to listen because they love you and are part of the family. Similarly at some point I would expect a dog to do things to please the owner (i.e., for praise) rather than to please itself (for goodies)

They are in the camp that dogs must do to please and have never used food as a treat / reward - whereas my dog is still quite young and we can still get away with it - they look very much down on the use of it and have done from day one .

But I smirk when my dog comes running back to me when I blow my whistle ( treat or no treat) and they are still calling their dog - a bit like FENTON ! but without the deer

But praise is itself a reward, just not an edible one - dogs don't do things just to make you smile, lol, they do it because they like the end result...whether that's a biscuit or a good boy, they're still doing it for the reward