My 12 week old cockapoo is learning things very quickly. We give him treat insentives, usually just the corner of a little science diet puppy biscuit. We give him one when he comes inside after going potty outside, when we do our basic obedience practice like sit and come, and when he kennels up on his own. Will us backing off on the amount of treat rewards we give him have a negative effect on his behavior or urge to obey? Is praise and petting enough when he's already used to treats? Is it unhealthy for a puppy to be getting so many treats...He knows its coming, as soon as he runs inside from going potty he waits by the treat tin. Any suggestions?

Amy - get my puppy DVD - http://leerburg.com/120.htm Your need it.

If you are feeding science diet you are putting garbage in your pup - this is really crap dog food with a high advertising program that leads people to believe that its quality - its not.

http://www.leerburg.com/feedingdogs.htm

http://leerburg.com/feedingarawdiet.htm

Do some reading.

Obviously, I have to agree with Ed on the science diet.

A funny story (and it does have a point): When my wife and I were still dating she needed to get some new windshield wipers on her car. We had driven 350 miles to visit my parents so figured we should get it done before we drove back. The windshield wiper book wasn't there so I went to find it...well one of the parts people found my wife first and talked her into getting the uber-expensive Bosch wipers when I just wanted the dirt cheap ones that worked fine. Not only that but they were the replacement blades that you fit onto your existing arms, not the ones that you just pop off the whole thing pop on a new one and are done. $$$ & time later I finally get the wipers changed...My wife said not to leave her alone with slick talking salesman.

Fast forward like 6 years and we had just gotten our dog. I go off to get the groomer's advice on what brush to buy and come back to see my wife had been cornered by the Science Diet rep and had a small bag of dog food. We ended up buying it because my wife was woo'd by the lady's sales pitch and she gave us a coupon. My reasoning was that since he was a pound dog it would be better to switch him over to something better gradually. We switched him over to Innova in about a 10 day period. I would say he loves it, but he is a dog and would eat a block of wood if it smelled gross enough. He seems healthy on the Innova though he does eat a lot to maintain his weight since he is pretty active.

So yes, a good sales pitch can do a lot to get us to buy less than optimal things.

As far as treats...I treat my dog for everything. I like to use either some Innova, Charlie Bears or his (and my) favorite are cut up hot dogs...I don't mind putting the hot dog pieces in my mouth. My only concern would be your puppy getting fat if you are over treating. I don't see why you would need to back off on treats. I bet my dog will be getting pieces of hot dog when he is 10 years old!

I can't say enough good things about Ed's videos & articles.

Agreed again. The sad thing is, the dog foods heavily advertised as awesome on TV tend to make Burger King look healthy. Science Diet is considered a low quality food; if they had poured their money into formulating a high quality kibble rather than the advertising they might have a wonderful product. Learn how to read the ingredients labels in all the various kibbles and you'll see huge differences. I highly recommend going raw as well; in a small dog like the cockapoo it's probably going to be cheap, easy, and the best diet ever.

Again, your dog is a cockapoo, so treats must be extra small. If he has to spend time chewing a treat, it's too big. If he just swallows it very quickly and without any difficulty, it's perfect. You want him to experience the flavor and NOT getting filled up on treats. Again, read labels on everything to ensure you're feeding healthy treats and foods.

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I would say he loves it, but he is a dog and would eat a block of wood if it smelled gross enough.

I just split a gut laughing at this.

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I would say he loves it, but he is a dog and would eat a block of wood if it smelled gross enough.

I just split a gut laughing at this.

My husband's most memorable quote now that we feed raw is in reference to our our now 20 month old GSD.... "He used to eat anything that dropped on the floor, whether it was food or not." And MAN was that true. It's funny now, but back in the day this dog would put ANYTHING that fell to the floor in his mouth - be that a potato chip or a nail.

Since we started feeding raw, an amazing benefit has been that our dogs DON'T just dive for anything and everything that *might* be "food."

Science Diet nearly killed our old Beagle. While I respect our vet(s) for treatment of serious injuries, cancer, etc, I have learned that they are NOT trained in nutrition. Much like people doctors.

Our 10 year old Beagle is back down to a healthy weight, while eating more volume of food (so he is satisfied and not hungry all the time). He acts like he did when we first adopted him at estimated age 5.

I don't care what happens to me and Gary in our lives - our dogs will eat raw food.

(off soap box)
In terms of rewards.... *food* (Natural Balance)is our reward of choice while tracking. But in most, if not ALL other situations, a special toy is the reward of choice.

Hope this helps..

Beth

I give treats randomly, but I never show the treat BEFORE the job is done. I mark first ("Good boy!") and then I either throw a treat or I don't. That way the dog doesn't expect it, he obeys with or without the treat, but since he usually gets one he obeys really well. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />