Biting taken to a whole new level

[Labradorks]

Even if he is sitting on command now, I'd still reward him. He's young and you want to reinforce it. Just because you feel like you don't have to, doesn't mean you shouldn't. And, why wouldn't you want to give him a cookie? Sometimes I give my dogs cookies because they are cute! It makes me happy and it certainly makes them happy! Nothing wrong with reinforcing a behavior until there is absolutely no question that he associates that behavior with something good and has excellent reliability. And every time he gets a reward for an exercise, it's like a tick in the "I love my mom and like doing what she says!" box. Conditioning a dog to happily and reliably do what you say even when he has other things to do takes time. Unfortunately, he's going to get worse before he gets better (they all do!) and you'll want to hit him hard now (figuratively, not literally) before he's big, hormonal or picks up bad habits (and they all do, to some extent). A few weeks of reinforcement does not a make a trained puppy or a conditioned puppy, and it sounds like this puppy is going to be challenging for you so I'd be reinforcing for a long time and when you think he's ready, challenge him. Take him on the porch, to the driveway, to the yard, to the sidewalk out in front of your house and see what you get (bring treats!). When you can take your dog to the dog food aisle of PetCo during busy hours and he performs his exercises for you exactly like he does at home, then you have a trained dog.

[barry581]

I always have treats in my pockets, and use them for both dogs daily.

[PinkDragon14]

Maybe try the chicken or turkey kind. I don't normally use hot dogs for training but had run out of my "go to" high value reward, I used cheese hot dogs and Maxx thought they were absolutely awesome, lol! He is very food motivated as it is but he went crazy over those. String cheese has been his go to favorite pretty much from day one.

I love that he sat for you with out being asked, he is one smart little boy that enjoys challenging his mama!

I'm considering trying the string cheese. We're trying to stay away from "extra people food" treats with him. Our last lab was SPOILED. She ate steak, hot dogs, cheese, pretzels, etc etc etc. She was overweight and we don't want the same happening for him. The only people food he's gotten is bologna, chicken (chicken/rice too), and hot dogs. I know I shouldn't worry at the puppy stage, but still - we don't want him used to getting everything we eat.

Even if he is sitting on command now, I'd still reward him. He's young and you want to reinforce it. Just because you feel like you don't have to, doesn't mean you shouldn't. And, why wouldn't you want to give him a cookie? Sometimes I give my dogs cookies because they are cute! It makes me happy and it certainly makes them happy! Nothing wrong with reinforcing a behavior until there is absolutely no question that he associates that behavior with something good and has excellent reliability. And every time he gets a reward for an exercise, it's like a tick in the "I love my mom and like doing what she says!" box. Conditioning a dog to happily and reliably do what you say even when he has other things to do takes time. Unfortunately, he's going to get worse before he gets better (they all do!) and you'll want to hit him hard now (figuratively, not literally) before he's big, hormonal or picks up bad habits (and they all do, to some extent). A few weeks of reinforcement does not a make a trained puppy or a conditioned puppy, and it sounds like this puppy is going to be challenging for you so I'd be reinforcing for a long time and when you think he's ready, challenge him. Take him on the porch, to the driveway, to the yard, to the sidewalk out in front of your house and see what you get (bring treats!). When you can take your dog to the dog food aisle of PetCo during busy hours and he performs his exercises for you exactly like he does at home, then you have a trained dog.

I do reward him occasionally, even when he does potty outside. I can't wait for him to be completely trained (and stop biting of course!). I'll say it again - I hate to wish the puppyhood away, but I can't take his biting and evil behaviors anymore. I swear he's the devil's dog LOL

I'm excited to get him out to pet stores and into town a bit more. There's a whole world out there he hasn't experienced yet and we can't mimic every little part of it.

[Labradorks]

I do reward him occasionally, even when he does potty outside. I can't wait for him to be completely trained (and stop biting of course!). I'll say it again - I hate to wish the puppyhood away, but I can't take his biting and evil behaviors anymore. I swear he's the devil's dog LOL

I'm excited to get him out to pet stores and into town a bit more. There's a whole world out there he hasn't experienced yet and we can't mimic every little part of it.

Be generous. It will pay off later. And, enjoy the process. Might as well, you'll be knee deep in it for a few more years. Get in a hurry and you'll just be frustrated.

[Snowshoe]

, people food does not spoil pets. It's the timing of the giving that spoils them. Take a piece of meat off your plate while you are eating and give it to the dog and you've taught him he can have your food for treats while you are eating. Save a couple of pieces of meat, wait till later, ask your dog to perform a trick or SIT or fetch something up and reward with a piece of that meat is fine.

[Tanya]

, people food does not spoil pets. It's the timing of the giving that spoils them. Take a piece of meat off your plate while you are eating and give it to the dog and you've taught him he can have your food for treats while you are eating. Save a couple of pieces of meat, wait till later, ask your dog to perform a trick or SIT or fetch something up and reward with a piece of that meat is fine.

x100
the best high valu treats are often human food. pieces of meat (keep a few leftovers), cheese, fish...this can also be cheaper than some of the store bought treats. You mix that up with some low and medium value treats and mix it up when you choose to reward. When doing lots of training you cut back on the quantity of kibble to offset the treats/rewards.

I agree, your pup is in the very early stages of learning. Sure once they get it you don't treat as often but you want to keep a random payment plan going (meaning randomly reward). Also remember "learning" is done in stages. Learning to sit with you standing in front of htem in the house with no distractions is level one. You need to train him in diferent places, with you in different positions (sitting, him on your side), with slowly increasing distractions. When you increase anything (distance, distractions, location, duration) you have to up the rewarding as well.

Your classes are in a pet store? I would HIGHLY recommend starting outings in quieter places and getting some leash desensitization before going to the pet store for classes - the first class will be intense if he hasn't left your home and then goes to a class in a pet store with other puppies .

[arentspowell]

, people food does not spoil pets. It's the timing of the giving that spoils them. Take a piece of meat off your plate while you are eating and give it to the dog and you've taught him he can have your food for treats while you are eating. Save a couple of pieces of meat, wait till later, ask your dog to perform a trick or SIT or fetch something up and reward with a piece of that meat is fine.

I agree with this! My dogs get TONS of people food and they are both slim and trim. We had NY strips the other night for dinner and I will carefully cut off pieces of meat off the fat to give to them at the end. We actually do feed them off our plates but they know they have to wait till the end of the meal to get anything. Daisy the lab sits in the adjacent living room and Lily the Doxie waits patiently in her bed under the end table.

[Annette47]

, people food does not spoil pets. It's the timing of the giving that spoils them. Take a piece of meat off your plate while you are eating and give it to the dog and you've taught him he can have your food for treats while you are eating. Save a couple of pieces of meat, wait till later, ask your dog to perform a trick or SIT or fetch something up and reward with a piece of that meat is fine.

Or do what we do and ask the dog to perform a trick in the middle of dinner before giving them a piece off the plate, LOL.

[Meeps83]

Veggies and some fruits are awesome treats (or kong stuffers) as well!

[windycanyon]

My trip to Costco yesterday was specifically due to needing the big bag of string cheese... for dog training. With 7 mos and 17 mos olds in rally and obed training, we sure go thru it here! Cheese is great in that you can put it eventually in your own mouth, and dispense (spit) it to your dog at the precise moment needing to be rewarded. It's also great for some of the training games I do. I also use dried apple treats a fair amount. Used to use a lot of hot dogs but really don't anymore w/ the exception of tracking, and then that is only after the puppy is older (5-6 mos or so) before giving anything like that.