I've found you have to be tough and not to flinch when handing the treat. Keep a good handle on it until the dog takes it gently. They learn pretty quick what they need to do to get the prize.
Taking treats nicer?
Mojo just about chomps my hand off when I hand him treats... It was a real problem in obedience class last night, because he kind of does a bounce thing too... like a small lunge forward.
How can I get him to take treats better? Without worrying if I'm going to come back with all my fingers? :uhoh::crossfing
How can I get him to take treats better? Without worrying if I'm going to come back with all my fingers? :uhoh::crossfing
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This is what I do with Scout.
Option 1
1. Sit
2. take my treat and hold it with my thumb pinky and ring finger. This leaves the index and middle finger open
3. the index and middle finger become the bumper. I say easy and tap his nose. He can see the treat but won't get it until he is easy beacuse my fingers are tapping him telling him easy.
Option 2
1. sit
2. down
3. easy
4. wait
5. place treat on the floor.
option 3.
1. sit
2. wait
3. count to 3 and make him catch
I mix them up as well so he has to think a little.
Option 1
1. Sit
2. take my treat and hold it with my thumb pinky and ring finger. This leaves the index and middle finger open
3. the index and middle finger become the bumper. I say easy and tap his nose. He can see the treat but won't get it until he is easy beacuse my fingers are tapping him telling him easy.
Option 2
1. sit
2. down
3. easy
4. wait
5. place treat on the floor.
option 3.
1. sit
2. wait
3. count to 3 and make him catch
I mix them up as well so he has to think a little.
Or just put it in the palm of your hand, means they have to lick, not nip. Good luck!
This is what I did with Duke because he was exactly the same way. I put the treat in my fist and slug him. dowpe, did I type that out loud. JUST KIDDING - couldn't help it lol.
I hold the treat with all the tips of my fingers and tuck them inside my wrist and give it to him with the outside of my hand first. Kind of roll it to him saying easy. It really did work. That's probably wrong, but it saved my fingers!
I'll never be able to put a treat on his nose and have him get it when I tell him to. Oh well!
I hold the treat with all the tips of my fingers and tuck them inside my wrist and give it to him with the outside of my hand first. Kind of roll it to him saying easy. It really did work. That's probably wrong, but it saved my fingers!
I'll never be able to put a treat on his nose and have him get it when I tell him to. Oh well!
I'd make a fist around it, let him nuzzle, chew, whatever to your hand and wait until a moment that he gives up or takes a break to give it to him. Only give him the treat when he leaves your hand alone. Do that enough times, and he'll get it. 
lol YES - THAT'S what I meant! :doh:I'd make a fist around it, let him nuzzle, chew, whatever to your hand and wait until a moment that he gives up or takes a break to give it to him. Only give him the treat when he leaves your hand alone. Do that enough times, and he'll get it.
Excellent ideas everyone! I'm gonna go try them now!
I hold it between thumb and index finger with the other 3 fingers out stretched. Sort of a cross between here's the treat and 'halt'. Be ready to pull the treat out of reach AS SOON AS it looks like Mojo is going to be rude. I pull it back and say: Achh, Be Nice. Keep doing that until she gets the idea that lunging doesn't get the treat but if she sits quietly you will hand it to her.
Part of it is just that she's an exciteable, interactive dog. She's the one who will lay on her side with the "nap" command, isn't she? Or do I have them mixed up. Teaching her to control herself and take the treat calmly gives her another behavior option to practice.
Loved the video!
Part of it is just that she's an exciteable, interactive dog. She's the one who will lay on her side with the "nap" command, isn't she? Or do I have them mixed up. Teaching her to control herself and take the treat calmly gives her another behavior option to practice.
Loved the video!
Oh yes, that's Mojo. LOL. Maxie, the other one, takes treats SO WELL. But yeah... I was trying some other suggestions last night, and they were working... for a little bit. Then he started getting agitated that he didn't get the treat right away and chomped two of my fingers. :no: LOL... He's lucky I love him so much.I hold it between thumb and index finger with the other 3 fingers out stretched. Sort of a cross between here's the treat and 'halt'. Be ready to pull the treat out of reach AS SOON AS it looks like Mojo is going to be rude. I pull it back and say: Achh, Be Nice. Keep doing that until she gets the idea that lunging doesn't get the treat but if she sits quietly you will hand it to her.
Part of it is just that she's an exciteable, interactive dog. She's the one who will lay on her side with the "nap" command, isn't she? Or do I have them mixed up. Teaching her to control herself and take the treat calmly gives her another behavior option to practice.
Loved the video!
Ah well, Rome wasn't built in a day!
Had the same issue with Gilmour. Especially with meat.
Another tip from his breeder cured it pretty quick:
First, make him sit and be still the whole time.
Put the treat in the palm of your hand. Put the back of your hand up to him so he can smell it, but not get to it. When he settles down, give him the treat from the flat palm of your hand (not the fingers). That way he can't bite down on them. He has to carefully take it from the palm of your hand.
After a few weeks of that, I can give him just about anything any way I want.
Another tip from his breeder cured it pretty quick:
First, make him sit and be still the whole time.
Put the treat in the palm of your hand. Put the back of your hand up to him so he can smell it, but not get to it. When he settles down, give him the treat from the flat palm of your hand (not the fingers). That way he can't bite down on them. He has to carefully take it from the palm of your hand.
After a few weeks of that, I can give him just about anything any way I want.
Mojo just about chomps my hand off when I hand him treats... It was a real problem in obedience class last night, because he kind of does a bounce thing too... like a small lunge forward.
How can I get him to take treats better? Without worrying if I'm going to come back with all my fingers? :uhoh::crossfing
when Ruby was younger and she tried to snatch her treats I would hold onto them in my fingers and say nicely
eventually she got the message that I wouldnt loose her treat until she was gentle and even now if I give her a treat and dont loose it straight away she will take her mouth of it and look at me with her mom come on I am being nice face lol
it does take some doing at first as puppies teeth are sharp (as you know lol) but I found it didnt take long to learn
eventually she got the message that I wouldnt loose her treat until she was gentle and even now if I give her a treat and dont loose it straight away she will take her mouth of it and look at me with her mom come on I am being nice face lol
it does take some doing at first as puppies teeth are sharp (as you know lol) but I found it didnt take long to learn
Great suggestions by other posters! I'm not sure if Mojo knows how to give kisses yet, but if so, you could start with the treat in your closed fist and ask for kisses on your hand and then when Mojo starts doing that instead of biting, turn your hand over and offer the treat.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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