I've seen that before with board and train dogs. They seem to need a bit of a "warm up" period before they take food well then they're just as eager as normal for the food.

I don't really have an explanation for it.

Duplicate please delete

 Quote: Bob Scott

It's not uncommon for some dogs to view the interaction with their handlers as a reward.

Yes, this could be the explanation. Almost always, when I start a session, it happens the same way. With the others I don't start with the same exercise.

But with him with his balance problems I did it in the beginning for a long time like that. Maybe this has for him become sort of signal that the interaction has begun. I do give always a start cue though, which he probably has not yet understood well yet.

 Quote: Cathy Goessman

I've seen that before with board and train dogs. They seem to need a bit of a "warm up" period before they take food well then they're just as eager as normal for the food.

I don't really have an explanation for it.

Yes, Cathy, this would in other words correspond with what Bob said.

IMO What we are all describing is increasing motivation. Very few dogs come out of the kennel at peak motivation. Even if he starts eager, a dog's motivation builds as the session progresses. When training in drive, it is imperative to warm the dog up before beginning, then do quick drive-building pauses any time you see the drive wane. This is in line with everything that the good sport instructors teach about motivation.

With Sadie, I start a session with a brief exercise. First, I ask her if she's ready. "Ready" is a trained cue to get her focus. I front her, call her to heel, maybe a sit... Just a few quick rewardable behaviors to get that food drive kicked in. During the actual training, I use an audible stimulator and some dynamic food presentation to keep/build/maintain drive.

Christina, based on your description of the "brain damaged" one's eagerness without food at the beginning of the session, it might be that he would probably perform at a higher level using play or a ball rather than food. Many trainers start with food, then switch to play as interaction with the handler becomes more valuable. In my case, the highest drive my dog has is food drive. I have worked on building prey (play) drive with her, but the food drive is insane, so that is what I use.

Duane, Charlie comes running like a fool when I call him especially when he knows it's training time. What you're saying about building up motivation is exactly what happens with him.

I also use a Ready-Command, but I'm not sure if he already understands it. He doesn't take any food out of my hand in the beginning, but when I make his favorite exercise - sending him away down a 3-step stair to get the food I threw far away, this builds somehow his drive.

After this I can try any exercise and he follows it with joy.
Pauses I do make in order to get him a bit impatient, then he suddenly looks at me: "What's going on? Do continue!"

I also deliver the food with a sommetimes shorter or longer reward event. This he loves greatly.

At toys he unfortunately doesn't react yet. This will need time. Here I have to consider that the first 1 1/2 years of his life he was living on the street, where of course no one played with him.

But yesterday he came out of his kennel with the mat in his mouth!!! Actually not the ideal item. But he was definitely trying to ask me to play with him. So I did it for a short while and then changed to another toy, which unluckily he wasn't interested in. Well at least it was a good surprise. I know what time it was and will try at the same time again with another toy. I will have to experimente a bit with different toys and times, I think.

Do you have access to a piece of cow hide small enough that you can handle?

Many dog like to chew on a piece of leather and play tug with it.

Obviously you don't want to leave it with the dog because small pieces can be chewed off.

That shouldn't happen anyway because the "toys" should all belong to you.

Yes, I've always left Kongs with my two GSDs but they always IMMEDIATELY brought those to me for a game of tug.

I also wanted the two to have something that kept them busy.

Side note
Neither dog has ever bothered the other's Kong and since Thunder has passed, Trooper still hasn't touched Thunder's Kong in the yard.

That Trooper doesn't touch Thunder's Kong, sounds quite strange to me. Does this mean he has such a strong awareness of what is the other dog's property? This is really amazing! How did you teach this to your dogs? Or did it just happen like this?

Access to a cow hide I have not, but reading this I remember I must have somewhere an old ugly leather jacket which I could cut in pieces. Will have to search for it. Wimmin!

A Kong Charlie has too, but he doesn't chew it. Probably it is too big for him. I must buy a smaller one or something which is softer.

Other toys I only use for training or playing. I've learned it from Ed Frawley that the toys belong to me. I own a whole lot!

I didn't teach that to him, Thunder did.

He was a strong but clear headed, dignified dog and with Trooper it was nothing more then a look.

At the very most a low growl.

I knew from the beginning that Thunder loved puppies and Trooper would never be a dog to challenge Thunder.

Together 24/7 for the 9 1/2 yrs I had Trooper he never once challenged Thunder's authority.

At the same time Thunder was never a pushy dog with Trooper or any other family dogs that often came over but his "look" was also respected by the other family dogs.

I know I go against a lot of "rules" concerning multiple dog ownership but I've always been able to read my dogs and never had an issue other then one crazy JRT.

He was a dog I could easily control when they were all in my presence but his temperament sucked and I could never leave him alone with any of the family's dogs other then my two Border terriers.

Outstanding! I've never heard nor seen something like this.

I know from my own experience how damned powerful looks can be, puuuuh! But that a dog can have this skill too, very impressive. What a dog! Now I undestand why you called him Thunder. So sorry, man, I can feel how much you must be missing him. Seems he still uses his authority with looks from heaven to earth.