i think I've messed up with Stanley somehow. I always take good treats on his walk to reward him for good recall. He gets treats for nice loose lead walking and checking in when he's off lead and lots for good recall. But lately he's clicked that mummy's got treats on her. It's brill for loose lead walking because he trots along next to me his attention fully on me. But it's ruining his off lead time because he just stays by my side and doesn't run around. He'll chase after balls or go and play with other dogs if he's allowed but then he just plods along next to me and I'm worried he's not getting enough exercise. Thanks for any help
Well, if what you want is a dog that does his own thing, then you need to have 'stay with me' properly on cue - it sounds like he has been rewarded either randomly, or continuously and there is no start or end points. So train him to do something specific - a proper off lead heel would be good. And put that on cue. So there is a start to the behaviour and an end to the behaviour, and when it's at an end he knows he will no longer be paid - and don't pay him. It's a good idea to do this with anything. So introduce a 'ready' cue, which means 'now I want your attention' and a 'finished' cue which means 'there will now be no more treats until I ask you to do something else'.
I've taught Tatze and Zaba a 'no treats are forthcoming just now' signal or they would both be the same. I show them two empty hands and say 'all done' (sometimes I need to keep my hands visible, not in pockets, for a while for them to believe me) it works really well once they get the message.
I use the cue "go" with Quinn, because she does the same if she knows I have a ball in my pocket (or thinks I might) or thinks I'm expecting something from her (we do training at the park). I started by continuing to walk, and showing her my hands. I would wave her along and say go and say "good" as a marker if she went off. Now I just tell her to go and she knows that means she can run off ahead and I'm not expecting her to to anything.
We had exactly this problem and I now use the cue "finish" to signal the end of training, treats, retrieving a ball etc. He picked it up really quickly.
Thanks everyone! Think I'll have to divide his walks a bit more into official training/his time. I just want him to enjoy them - they're his time after all.
It's valuable though, him sticking with you. So don't lose it. Just make the sticking with you time exciting - use it to train. Retrieve, go to a target, an energetic walk at heel. Don't waste it with him plodding along hoping for treats.
Willow can be like this. I have a "go play!" cue, which means there are no more treats, and she usually has a bit of a run, but then comes back. We're gradually working towards a better balance, but she's such a foodie and ver hopeful I've actually put "chase" on cue - that is, me chasing her. This almost always guarantees a bum-tuck and then she'll do her own thing for a while.
