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?
there are alot of obedience trainers who look for a dog like that! if she is more toy motivated than treat motivated, just do what works for her! you will both be happier in the end, than if you try to change her to fit you. prey drive is a great thing to use to your advantage!
"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the public."
Anyway, I did/do use food almost exclusively for teaching brand new things. The first meal I ever gave him, he couldn't get to it, or eat it, fast enough. It almost disturbed me. I thought it was a vestige left over from competing with littermates for food or something. Apparently not, since it continues to this day. A bat-out-hell recall at single digit weeks is what I had.
Point is, if his food drive wasn't like that, or if he didn't show early signs of food aggression, I wouldn't have used it like I did. In fact, I would preferred to just use a toy.
Now that he's sufficiently toy oriented, I use that after he gets the basic idea of something via food (which is still gets a crisper, tighter response for just about everything). Haven't taught anything totally new in quite a while though.
At a comparable age, my puppy did not care for "treats". In fact, he wouldn't eat them. Not even hot dog. He was only insane for the raw food onto which he was weaned.
If you're feeding kibble, the dog might be telling you something.
Dear Mark: You mentioned in your post about feeding your dog in the crate and that you would not be able to remove the food within a certain amount of time. Does that mean you are gone for an extended amount of time? Puppies usually have to go out to potty after eating, you might not want to leave her in her crate after eating without a way to relieve herself. You don't want her to get into the habit of soiling her crate.
I too used food for training as a breakfast meal for my dog Bindi and it worked great. I wish Bindi was more interested in toys, prey than food. But she would do anything for a treat!
The puppy video you have is a great one and will give you tons of helps, so will the obedience one.
May God bless you
Sharon Empson
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
Posts: 2665
Loc: AZ
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At 9 weeks old, I find it amazing that your pup is trying to figure out what you want.
Also, at that age, I wouldn't skip any meals but would try luscious treats before mealtime, like raw meat as Carol said. Tiny bits of hamburger meat or tiny bits of steak. I suspect once she tastes some raw meat, she'll react much better than to a dry biscuit or kibble treat.
Definitely use a toy if she likes that best.
Keep any training session very short, just a few seconds at this age. Remember, no corrections on a pup this young (just a reminder).
In addition to using a toy or a treat, you can even use her play drive when teaching come. Call her to come, then play and praise like crazy when she does. This is a good thing to do anyway whenever she comes to you when you call her. Since you say she loves to play, use it to your advantage.
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
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Loc: South Dakota, USA
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Quote: Steven Lepic
I've been summoned. How odd.
Thanks Steve, I just wanted an opinion from someone who used food/mealtimes as a training opportunity. If I had the time I would do that with all of my dogs, since, from what I have seen in your videos, your dog is doing well!!
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Re: prey motivated vs. food motivated
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Thanks Steve, I just wanted an opinion from someone who used food/mealtimes as a training opportunity. If I had the time I would do that with all of my dogs, since, from what I have seen in your videos, your dog is doing well!! 
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