okay, here is my query for the day hahaha. I notice that my dog (for those that can't remember now a 9 week old German shorthair pointer) just seems rather disinterested in treats. I give liver treats, small biscuits, and tried cheese this morning (the cheese seemed to perk her interest). however, last night, and for several days actually, i try to get her to come to me using treats, and last night tried to go through just a bit of the 'sit' command. Problem being she just doesn't seem to be interseted all that much, consistently or for any long amount of time, in getting a treat. Which got me thinking, seeing as how the GSP is a bird dog by trait, is it feasible that she is more intesrested in getting a toy than getting a treat. She absolutely loves to play, and will come to a toy a lot quicker than to a treat. i experimented some last night and found i could usually get her to come with a toy in hand. On this same issue, is being prey motivated (or toy motivated) a problem?

On this same subject, last night and this morning actually for just a bit, when i would get her interest with a treat, and say sit, several times she just goes over and sits down on a cushion i have outside of her crate and stare at me. i have never trained her to do so, so the fact that she just may be mistaking what i want just doesn't make sense. i did notice a couple of times last night, when i would say 'come' or 'sit' she would walk into her crate, which i thought was really cool since at least she knows i am wanting her to do 'something'. i was just curious why she would sometimes go lay down and just stare rather than coming to me consistently. could be tired...i don't know. maybe i should just switch to a toy?

not to write a book, but just thought of this too. i feed her two times per day. once in morning, once in evening. although I would like to feed her 3 times a day, she just doesn't seem to eat when i am around very much. this morning for example, i put her food out, she nibbles just a bit, and then runs to me wanting to play. I don't want her to go hungry, so i wonder if i should do all feeding in the crate while i am gone for the day, of course then i can't take it away from her after so long.

got my 8 weeks to 8 month video last night and started watching. extremely interesting. i am like a huge sponge trying to soak all of this stuff up. i have always loved dogs and been around dogs and now that i have my own, i want to do things correctly.

You have to find a treat that she absolutely will go bonkers over (raw meat is a good one) and then only use that treat for training. Do not use it for just anything.

If she is more toy motivated, then that is great in my opinion.
I have a dog here that is more food motivated and it drives me nuts. I have to remember treats.....but, food motivation is not a bad thing, toys and tugs are just my preference.

How should Mark lure with a toy, Carol? And how do you reward? How do you get the reward back?

Mark: Have you tried training with a high value (smelly, like Hot Dog) treat in the evening before her evening meal? Or, if you have an occassion to skip the evening meal, perhaps the next morning before breakfast?

 Quote: david eagle

How should Mark lure with a toy, Carol? And how do you reward? How do you get the reward back?

I should have added that I do use food as a reward for initial training of pups......usually it is Natural Balance or Red Barn food rolls cut up into manageable pieces or I use a buffalo steak cut up......

I use the "two toy/tug" method for recall work.

And, the way I act with pups I am sure would get me committed, since I do whatever I can to make me the funnest thing in the world.

It really depends on what motivates the pup or dog more.

As far as marking, I am still learning all that stuff, so I am not good at explaining it. I reward the dog for good behavior and for doing what I want them to do.
If they are trying really hard and putting forth an effort, I will reward that as I want them to know that just trying to do the right thing is better than not doing anything at all or doing something that is unacceptable.

Yeah, I may try and just get some better stuff for her. maybe something besides liver treats etc. It's funny, I have never seen a dog that could honestly care less about food, it just wants to play when you are there. And it doesn't appear to get worn out to easy either. Thanks,

p.s. Carol, in your signature below your web address..second dog over is that a plott hound? Cool looking dog. Have an aquaintance that hunts plotts in NC.

From left to right as you look at the screen is:

Jesea: Malinois
Marley: Black Lab (is this the dog you were asking about?)
Rock: Dutch Shepherd
Max: Bloodhound

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/plotthound.htm

Hmmmm, might make a good trailing dog for SAR though....

oh, okay, looked like one in the face kinda. my friend uses them to track black bears. some of the better ones are several thousand dollars.

Hee Hee, I honestly cannot wait to tease Doug about this....."hey honey, your dog is such a Plott Hound......" AHHAHAHAHAHAHA, I can just hear it, "Shhhhutttttt uuuupppppp he is not."

Thanks Mark, this is gonna be great.

I like the idea of training before you feed the dog to increase desire. Skipping a meal or two to cause a real strong drive for food for the first session probably wouldn't hurt, either. If the dog can get into the game, and learn how fun it is to sit over and over for food, perhaps it will be more motivated to play. To me it sounds like the dog doesn't understand what you want, so it is getting frusterated. Do you have the Basic Obedience DVD?