Hello all who read this post.

I was hoping to get some feedback on a teaching method i have applied with my Dobermann puppy of 4mths.

When feeding my puppy at meal times, she knows to sit and wait until i give the command of "have it". I also use this method when hand feeding treats etc.
I have even conditioned my puppy with the "exact" word, by this i mean that i trick her by saying other words in a similar tone and she waits until the correct word.
I have also used a command for her to stop eating, or spit out a bone etc.(I seldom use this command, it was taught for emergencies etc.)
This all works well, and she seems to have developed great confidence in knowing how to comply.
I have high hopes for her in obedience trials, and i was wondering if anybody may think that this method of teaching could be in sme way bad. Bad in such ways as lowering food drive etc. or if given a treat after performing a newly taught command, may concentrate more on listening for the desired words "have it" rather than the new command.

Just looking for some opinions on the possible ramifications, or even other ideas that people may have.
I know there are alot of members of this forum who really know alot about the psychological makeup of canines, i would really like to hear from some of you guys aswell.

Thanks in advance to everyone. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I have used "nicely" before allowing my dogs to take food from my hand and I haven't had any problems with lowering food drive. In fact training with food in general has certainly raised the food drive of my current pup who arrived at 12 weeks with very little food drive, and currently, at 20 weeks, is leaping and biting me at meal times. She never gets food directly from a bowl, only on a track or from my hand after performing a behavior and after the click.

If the puppy already had low food drive, I might not use a wait command, since the pup may turn away and do something more interesting, therefore not improving his drive for food, or receiving his reward for good work. If he already has good focus and drive for the food, I don't think you will be lowering it any. In fact a little bit of waiting and frustration might improve the drive for it.

Louise

Hi Louis, thanks for the reply.
My puppy had an IMMENSE food drive when i first got her at 8 weeks, although it does seem to have reduced slightly. This is not a problem because the drive is still very high, i was just hoping for some feedback such as yours.

One problem i did have though was in an attempt to teach the down command. I hold food in my hand and my hand down on the ground, i then say "have it". She goes for the food in my hand, and in anticipation of her "down" i say "down", she stops going for the food assuming that "down" has cancelled "have it". Any suggestions?

Thanks
Aaron