This is probably a stupid question

[TheCunnyFuntIsAGrittersWife]

But if you use a toy for training instead of food, I'm confused as to what you actually do with the toy do you give it to the dog, or what?

When my greyhound comes home (he's in foster at the moment) I'm going to attempt to teach him a couple of basic things, and he isn't really motivated by food, but he has 1 toy that he absolutely adores that I could use as his reward.

So I guess what I'm asking is, how do I train with a toy?

You play with it - a quick game of tug is what Dog2 likes best. You know when you watch dogs doing agility, have you noticed that many of them are rewarded with a game of tug at the end? Also for drug-detection dogs and the like, their handlers often play tug. So whatever this favourite toy is for the greyhound, let him play with it (but most dogs prefer an interactive game rather than playing on their own).

Hope you have lots of fun!

He prefers to 'kill' it by himself, he chews it and shakes his head around. It's not really the right shape for tug either but it's the only one he really really loves.

Sounds like you should let him 'kill' it then!

My husky 'killed' some other dog's ball at the park today. Most embarrassing.

Sprocket's done that before too :o it was one of those squeaky bone type things with a ball shape at each end iyswim? He had it in his mouth and was chomping away merrily and then both the ball ends dropped off! Luckily it was my friends dogs toy and she just laughed.

So do I let him kill it a bit then take it back to do a bit more?

Yes. You'll need to be able to take it back off him so might need to teach a leave it or drop it first, and/or have something else to swap with. If he reaches a natural end to 'killing' it that will help as it is meant to be a reward (getting it) not frustration from it being taken away too soon. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it very quickly.

It was a stranger's ball and was destroyed in a matter of seconds. Glad mine isn't the only dog to do it! People sometimes try to play fetch with my husky but it never works - he doesn't fetch, he only chases and kills.

I suppose with a toy, training can be 2 lessons in one then, if you swap the toy for a small piece of food it'll teach him not to guard things won't it? Not that he does anyway but it's always good to reinforce that I guess!

If Sprocket could go offlead he would chase to kill too, it's in his blood, chasing to kill so can't blame him really.

If I wanted to use a toy for training, I'd keep it as a high value treat, that only comes out as a reward when he's working/training, rather than him having free access alll the time, if that makes sense. That increases the sense of excitement and value attached to the toy and the reward of playing wiht it.