I started marker training yesterday with Loki, I don't have the DVD but I've read all the threads here about it and the Leerburg E-Book, so I'm hoping that it's gonna work. Yesterday was really great and in the end Loki was started to look in my eyes for a treat (I wasn't trying to teach him or anything, it just kinda developed that way). One thing I noticed yesterday was that when I offered him a treat from my left hand, he kinda shied away, and took a step back before carefully approaching the treat and finally grabbing it. I didn't think much of it then, but today Loki has been shying away from both my hands, and backing away a little before he takes the treat. The treats I'm using are cut pieces of hot dogs, his favorite.

This has happened before when I was not marker training but doing basic obedience, he would take the treat from my hand a little roughly and hit his teeth on my fingers, and afterward he would shy away from the treat. I didn't react to his teeth cause i barely even felt it, didn't make a noise that scared him or pulled my hand away or anything. This might have happened in the marker training, but if it did I didn't notice it. I was keeping the sessions upbeat and exciting and he was completely into it except when I offered the treat. How can I reverse this and make him not back up and be so cautious?

Right now you are simply in the phase of "charging the mark" - whether that be your voiced "YES" (or whatever) or the clicker. If your dog seems unsure of taking it from your hand, simply say or click, pause a moment, then drop the food in front of him and let him get it. The purpose of charging the mark is to train the dog that when you click or say that specific word - something good happens. We aren't trying to train him to eat from your hands right now, we simply want him to know that when you say/click - he gets a treat.

Once he gets the message (it doesn't take long) that click means food - THEN you move on to adding a lesson. Other folks far more experienced than I will chime in, but to me, it isn't important that he take the treat from your hand. In fact, for many of the lessons you will be placing the treat somewhere else; on the "place", in his crate, etc... depending on what you are training.

After he understands that the marker is the signal for a reward, I think it will be EASY (assuming he has never been hurt by some other person's hand) to use marker training to get him to accept food from your hand! That is the beauty of marker training - it is all positive and once the dog understands the basics, it is applicable to so many different lessons.

Thank you for the reply! What you said makes sense, I was just surprised because before when I've been giving him something out of my hands he snatches it right out without hesitation. I did toss some treats on the floor or let him catch them with his mouth, and I will continue that. I definitely do not want to rush ahead of myself in this process, just wanna keep it fun. Another thing you mentioned about other people hurting him with his hands; he was a little hand shy when we first got him in November so we suspected the people we got him from to have maybe hit him. He got over it really quick but you never really know how bad it was. Anyways, I better not overanalyze this and just keep moving forward

Exactly right; don't over analyze it. I've been told dogs live in the present - what may have happened may have happened, but if you get stuck on worrying about it or trying to overcompensate for it, all this will just back fire. Since the issue with taking treats from your hand is not the main issue right now, just keep everything fun.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Thorun:
You can also deliver your treat by moving your hand away in a gentle sweeping manner, dropping it on the floor then turning away, still facing him and backing up. This body movement invites the dog to come into your personal space bubble. At this point, if your dog is not leary of quick movement, you can act "down right silly", perhaps even sitting on the floor. Sometimes eye contact can confuse a dog (not acceptable in the dog world unless you are challenging the other)so it is best to start with just a fleeting moment of eye contact and then the reward. Just a couple of hints to hopefully help your progress!
Happy Training,
Roni

Ed is in the process of editing a new video on Marker training as we speak, it should be done very soon.

It's titled The Power of Training Dogs with Food and is the first in a series of videos Ed and Michael Ellis will be producing together.

there is a DETAILED section on food delivery that will help you very much.

Projected release date is the end of this month.

 Quote: Cindy Easton Rhodes

Ed is in the process of editing a new video on Marker training as we speak, it should be done very soon.

It's titled The Power of Training Dogs with Food and is the first in a series of videos Ed and Michael Ellis will be producing together.

there is a DETAILED section on food delivery that will help you very much.

Projected release date is the end of this month.

Doesn't get much better than that, does it??

Roni thank you for the tips! They will definitely be used And that DVD sounds perfect for me. I want to buy a few DVD's actually so I better start saving But this new one seems like it could be just what I need, thank you all for your answers!

I forgot to mention a few things: The eye contact came about because Loki was starting to plomp down when he heard the YES! in previous sessions, and I didn't want him to think that yes was the new word for down. Instead I tried to get him to focus on something so he wouldn't automatically think of going into a down position. Yesterday in our final session of the day, he would look in my eyes, I would say yes! and he would look for treats. Does that mean I have charged the marker? I hope so :P This training is pretty great, I am having so much more fun than with the regular obedience

Sounds like you are the right track. The new video will be amazing and will help you in so many ways. I can't wait to get my copy! Think of all the fun you and your dog will have!
Happy Training,
Roni