My pup is fanatical about material items. If I fold laundry he jumps at me to get it, if I'm drying dishes, he's at it. I hear you all say 'he's a pup'. I know that, but I'm wondering if this focus could be used to an advantage.
Today, he's out in the garden and he knows that if he touches a particular plant, then I'll come running. (made it into a game with him really)
Anyway I'm drying dishes, watching him through the window and he does the dreaded deed (pulls at the plant), I go running with this towel in my hand and he sees the towel and comes rushing at me to get it. I do a half turn with the towel held sort of under my chin/neck and he starts doing this 'perfect' heel at the side of me all over the garden (looking up at me at all times) This went on for a couple of minutes (honestly)He was so focused on this towel. If any stranger/not trainers obviously had seen this they would have thought what a wonderfully trained dog I had <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Could I use this to my advantage in heelwork?
Maybe still reward with treats from time to time or let him have a specific cloth as his own to play with when not training? What do you think?

Where's all the pro trainers on this forum?
C'mon..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Lisa, I'm not one of the pros here, but I wouldn't give your dog any towels to play with on his own. Aside from health risks, you will devalue these items as training rewards. It would be like giving a kid free access to the cookie jar. After a while, the cookies just wouldn't be all that interesting any more. And yes! You can use them as training items but that will also open up any of your laundry as fair game.

Thanks Bob, I meant the towel as in rolled up and bound.
Yeah I suppose it would mean fair game to my laundry.
I think the neighbours would think it extremely peculiar seeing me walking round the garden saying 'Logan, heel' with a pair of underpants held at my neck!
Thankfully it can't be imagined here either <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> It'd give you nightmares! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />