I've been thinking about this on my last few training sessions. I generally have two lots of treats with me when I am training. My treat back at my waist, which contains dull, dry things like kibble and breadsticks, and a small tupperware pot in my messenger bag (which is a new addition that I love), which contains the really tasty stuff - normally cheese, frankfurter, roast chicken and, today, small pieces of frozen sprats. I use the boring stuff most of the time and the tasty stuff for things like recalls, anything new, or just occasionally mixed in to regular training. When I've read about jackpot treats, it always seems to have been something big, like a whole tin of sardines (I think that was in the Happy Puppy Handbook, although I may be wrong). But I was thinking, if I feed one of the pups a chunk of beef, say, that's the size of my fist, it lasts precisely the same amount of time as a piece a cubic centimetre. So, does the dog realise that it's any better? In which case, to make a "jackpot", rather than giving a big handful of something tasty, wouldn't it be more rewarding to the dog, as well as fewer calories, if I used several smaller pieces, given individually? So, instead of half a frankfurter, I might give three or four tiny pieces, not all together but one-two-three-four. The dog knows it's had way more than normal, so a jackpot, surely? What do you think?
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? Good question Fiona. I have always wondered that at the rate they down their food/treats how on earth can they tell the difference. However, I have noticed that higher value treats equates with higher concentration
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? I would do 'one, two, three, four etc' in quick succession, that is how I give jackpots. If you give half a frankfurter in one go, being a Labrador it will be gone in a second and may not even recognise it as a jackpot. I even say 'jackpot' as I give them
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? I like the idea of saying "Jackpot" to them and will use it with Molly. That's one of the great things about this site, there is always something you can learn.
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? The super duper jackpot for my two is smelly dried tripe sticks - but I use them quite sparingly really. Otherwise I just give lots of little treats (like a 'feed') for a jackpot. Our trainer makes squeaky noises and throws lots of treats for them to retrieve as a jackpot - the same treats but game/food combined.
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? A jackpot is nine smelly treats - even if it's a tin of sardines, I give it in nine bits. Nine. Critical for teenage recalls.
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? So you don't forget - it's nine. It's not one and a bit, it's not just a couple extra, it's "NINE! Yippee, NINE, Charlie! One - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight - nine! " It's a high enough number to make the reward last long enough, and a deliberate, definite number so you don't get sloppy, and you always take your time and count them out carefully - there needs to be a bit of ceremony about a jackpot reward.
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? I'm interested to see how other people use jackpots, since this is my first baby and I'm quite new. For Maisie, I always use much more interesting and tasty treats usually during recall, and usually give out quite a few little bits of treats (not a specific number, but definitely more than she would get for something else). But I don't think I've been doing a correct "jackpot" which seems to be more of a specific event? Sometimes I'll go withs something really great she doesn't get normally - like fresh sardines, which are generally only used as reinforcing the crate (I'll just occasionally command her into her crate, then feed her sardines off a fork in small bites, just as a LOOK HOW SPECIAL YOUR CRATE IS type thing). But I don't know if that's any different from a "normal" recall treat which is say 5-10 small pieces of cheese/hot dog/freeze dried sardine? Should I be saying JACKPOT! and doing the fancy 9 treats once in awhile? How often do I jackpot?
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? The theory behind using jackpots is the same as using a variable reward schedule - ie you think the the dog "gambling" on whether he will get a treat, or a jackpot, or nothing, strengthens the behaviour. I train with someone who doesn't use rewards in this way, so I don't either (most positive trainers that I have met do not fade treats). I always pay for a good response. What my dog does for his rewards changes - so I might ask him to run out, stop, then turn right before he gets his ball, when he used to get his ball just for stopping. So I ask for more and for better, but that's not the same as "fading out" treats or trying to use a gambling effect. So if I'm working on something very difficult, I'll just start feeding nine treats. If I'm asking for recalls around dummies and balls for example, I'll be feeding nine treats. It's just part of massively upping my rewards when it gets tough. To answer your question though, if you are adopting a gambling and jackpot strategy, this article explains how to use jackpots: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/the-gambling-effect/
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? Thanks for that explanation and the link, Julie! The trainer at our puppy classes just went over that same type of concept with treats at our last class - exemplary performance demands an exemplary reward and a lacklustre one a lacklustre reward. While not thinking about it in any formal way, I do practice this with Maisieā¦ when she does something very well she gets more/better treats than if she didn't do something well. I think I'll start doing a set number of treats as a jackpot.
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? Once a behaviour is on cue, I don't pay for a poor attempt. Witholding a reward has a big impact Charlie. He expects to be paid, he expects his click. If he doesn't get it, it's a disappointment to him. To the extent that I have to be careful with my body language if part of a more complex behaviour is poor, if he knows something has gone wrong, he can give up on the rest and it can all go totally pear shaped! So these days, I usually just pause, look away and immediately ask him to do something for a reward - a hand touch, something he can always do. The absence of a reward can start to be very powerful....
Re: "Jackpot" treats - quantity or number of pieces? I used cat food pouches as jackpots at one time. You can squeeze the stuff out of the pouch slowly and it involves plenty of time and messy licking of the pouch. Then the empty pouch goes in a poo bag to get disposed of......wet wipes are handy :