Simba has been learning pretty fast! He knows sit, down and come (all to an extent, but he's getting there!) at 8 weeks old. Today, I attempted to teach him "take nice". I've seen Victoria Stilwell's videos on puppy training, and her method involved clenching the treat in your hand until the puppy starts licking it and then you click and give him the treat. Well...I did that, and almost lost my hands. I'd really like him to learn to not bite/take treats nicely, because he lunges at people to bite them and not everyone has a toy on hand to redirect his biting.

Should I wait to teach him take nice/leave it? (leave it seems to have the same treat clenching technique, as seen on kikopup's channel) I also train him in the garage, as it's the place with the least distractions for now, but he still finds a way to run off and not listen to me lol. We have a motorcycle parked in the garage, and he always slips under it and does his shenanigans behind it. He'll outgrow the ability to slip under it someday, though.

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Simba's Pedigree

practice practice practice

It sounds like you're doing it right - you might want to make sure there's a bit more treat sticking out at first, so you don't lose a finger, though!
He'll get it eventually, and then you'll be so glad you put in the work!

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That's how we taught our boy to take treats nicely. We used the word "easy". If he started to lunge for it we'd pull it back and say "easy" while slowly trying again. Sometimes we'd hold it in our fist so he could lick it a little, then let him have it. I love victoria stilwell's videos!

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Thanks! Would it be okay to wear gloves while doing this? His teeth are like needles and I'm not sure how long I can stick my hand out and bear the pain.

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Simba's Pedigree

I don't see why not. Eventually you're gonna want him to know not to touch your skin, but you also don't want to have to explain all those marks on your hands. (I may be wrong and will happily bow to greater experience here!)

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I'm working this same command with my 9 week old and have a couple of suggestions for you:

We learned "leave it" with toy play, getting Murphy excited for a toy and when he had a firm grasp on it, taking hold and putting a treat right in front of his mouth. Saying 'leave it', when he released the toy, click or mark, and reward. Started this from day one to help with land shark behaviors!

I feed him two meals of kibble a day by hand so he is used to sitting calmly to eat. I show him his food bowl and hold it above his head till he sits. Click or mark when he sits and lower the bowl, taking food from it to feed him from the flat of my hand.

I've also tried the Stllwell method but ended up the same as you, he's overexcited and bitey. I'm thinking to combine her suggestion with high pitched ouch! that he knows means he's hurting, then waiting for him to lick.

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Murphy
Born 12/3/12