[nagdu] Food rewards

Sat Feb 28 19:50:28 UTC 2009

It could also be your choice of food for the reward.   Try something of a 
higher value... a different kind of dog kibble, chicken, beef, peanut 
butter, hot dog bits etc.

HTH
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wayne Merritt" <wcmerritt at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 12:46 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Food rewards

> Early on when I came hoem with my new Shepherd guide a few months ago,
> I tried to use some kibble as a food reward for finding our cubicle at
> work. She ended up taking the reward that I gave, but then shortly
> after that she dropped it on the floor. I found it a few minutes
> later. Granted, this is only one instance, but it led me to think that
> my Shepherd at least may not be stimulated by food rewards. I haven't
> tried the same trick again to be sure if this is true or if she just
> refused that one time. She's pretty sharp though, so usually it just
> takes me putting her at sit and praising her a lot to imprint
> something on her mind.
>
> Wayne
>
> On 2/28/09, Dan Weiner <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net> wrote:
>> Hi, guys.
>>
>> Dan W. and the hilarious hounds, His Royal Goofiness, carter and Evan 
>> here.
>> For what it's worth, here's my take on food rewards.
>> I think it is an excellent idea.
>>
>> Sure, some dogs might get a little silly, but it's a great incentive for 
>> the
>> dogs. They can associate a certain object or place with the food. The 
>> food's
>> coming from you and that also builds the bond.  Of course, I suppose you
>> might have to watch the dog's weight as those calories add up.--smile.
>> You're not required to give them food all the time and that's up to you.
>> I've taught my dogs to find stairs consistently, poles, etc. using 
>> treats.
>> Why do I mentioned stairs?  Well, at guide dog school they're taught to 
>> find
>> the stairs in some program including Leader.  But, I have honestly found
>> that to make it really consistent you have to reinforce it and treats can 
>> be
>> a great incentive.
>>
>> Now, here's a question.
>> I've only worked with labs.
>> So, do treats act as an incentive for shepherds, for example.
>> Some shepherd handlers I've met swear that their dogs are less
>> food-distracted than labs.
>>
>> Cordially,
>>
>> Dan W.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Julie J.
>> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 10:27 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] statement re: ownership and qeustions re:
>> schoolspolicies
>>
>> Merry,
>>
>> I do use food rewards with my dogs.  I've only trained two with clicker
>> methods and food rewards.  I'm not sure that's enough to draw huge
>> conclusions, but here's my observations for what their worth. *smile*
>>
>> Belle is not very food motivated.  On the way home from picking her up 
>> from
>> the shelter I ate a hamburger in the vehicle with her sitting between my
>> feet on the floor.  She was not interested in the food.
>>
>> During training with her I used  things like chicken, hamburger, cheese,
>> peanut butter etc.  She will not take food from the ground, other people 
>> or
>> anywhere else.  She has never counter surfed, gotten on the table or
>> snitched food.  I don't recall that she has ever gotten into the trash
>> either.   she arrived this way, so I can't claim any credit for her very
>> nice manners! *smile*
>>
>> Using food during training has not altered her behavior toward food.
>> Excepting that she is more interested in what I have and what she can do 
>> to
>> get it.   this is a product of clicker training, because you are
>> purposefully training the dog to think and problem solve
>>
>> Okay now for Monty.  He is a loveable, cheerful beast, but he is the most
>> food motivated dog I have ever met in my life.   He used to counter surf,
>> get into the trash, put his head on the table,  and about 101 other 
>> things
>> that pushed me to the brink of insanity.
>>
>> We have gotten most of that sorted out now.  He has not jumped up on the
>> kitchen counters for several months, doesn't get into the trash as long 
>> as
>> the lid is closed and I am able to keep his bag of dog food in the 
>> kitchen
>> on the floor without him bothering it.
>>
>> I have used mostly his dog food or other similarly boring treats with 
>> him.
>> I often joke that I could give him pocket lint and he would 
>> enthusiastically
>> eat it.  Probably he would, but I haven't tried it.
>>
>> I don't see that using food rewards has caused any bad behaviors as long 
>> as
>> it is used appropriately.  My son was giving food bribes to Monty to get 
>> him
>> to lie down.  Monty doesn't need that sort of reinforcement for a simple
>> down, so it has caused problems.   We are working on it and making 
>> progress.
>>
>> I think rules about the food is key.  Food has to be used as a reward for
>> the behavior you want, not as a bribe.
>>
>> Monty's extremely high interest in food has made training him with 
>> clicker
>> very easy in some respects...he is always willing to work for food, but a
>> challenge in other ways.  He is often very excited to learn new things, 
>> so
>> much so that his enthusiasm can interfere with his ability to perform 
>> small
>> delicate tasks.  that could be his youth and extremely high energy level 
>> too
>> though.
>>
>> My main observation with the two dogs and using a lot of food rewards is
>> this:
>> The base line interest for food is more a predictor of food related 
>> behavior
>> problems than the use of food as a reward.
>>
>> HTH
>> Julie
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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