Sherlock's Treatless Training

[@divadaedalus-1d2c]

Sherlock, you are the sweetest, smartest pup. You’re growing into a champion. Where does the time go?

[@sharonmulready1874]

The love in your voice when you say Sherlock's name is delightful! Thanks for the helpful advice - I have a new, love-motivated cavalier pup.

[@tabithasmith6558]

Well done Sherlock

[@sheliaprice8541]

He is A beautiful dog. I just love.

[@valeriekurita8299]

Very interesting to see affection training in action. Charlie, you have such patience!

[@carmaarmstrong9743]

Sherlock, you are so smart and so sweet!

[@susankeefer5981]

Good boy, Sherlock! 🐶🤎

[@pilarmontesfrechina1032]

Bravo Sherlock 😘😘

[@annamarsh]

I love the sound effect when Sherlock springs out of the wait command! It captures his inexhaustible enthusiasm for being close to you. So very Cavalier! Great fun to see him learning to over ride that strong preference. Being with you is a great reward!

[@markandmandyd7445]

Hi Charlie , Sherlock has captured all of our hearts.. Wonderful Dog.. Mommy Apple and Grandma Bootsie must be proud.. Have a great day and weekend ahead..

[@jenniferdunford9896]

Sherlock will make wonderful therapy dog.

[@debbieturk8339]

Good job Sherlock 👏 😊❤

[@sabrinafair6112]

“I would do anything for love, but I won’t do THAT!” (Boing . . .)

[@annaritabarile4893]

Ciao Charlie, Annarita dall'Italia, felicissima di vedervi! Complimenti Sherlock! È sempre più bello è molto intelligente 😉! Buona giornata ❤

[@francineferrelli5030]

I just love that little guy. He's so smart and loveable ❤

[@fionaforward3358]

I do the same with my 17 month old cavalier.She responds to commands because she wants to please me.I never use treats.I have learnt a lot watching you over the years.She is my third cavalier.I have found them all very easy to train as they are so responsive to the one they are bonded to.

[@gemmam3187]

Sherlock is the most adorable and loving dog, just like his mum and grandmother. Very good to see they don't always need the treats for training. Thanks so much.x

[@sarahthebeau8851]

And that’s a good teaching lesson for me. I’ve never trained a dog before, so I’m green at it. Thanks

[@skokian1able]

Well done Sherlock 👏🏻! He's a bright boy!

[@rosariasheppard836]

I’m going try try that. Thanks for the tips. After seeing Sherlock, I realize it takes time and constant training. Good job!

[@juliegroves4210]

As Sherlock is such an affectionate little boy he is eager to please you. The method of Treat-less training, focusing on reinforcing behaviors without the use of treats as a reward can help build a stronger bond between the trainer and the animal, as it encourages engagement and interaction beyond just food rewards. This can be particularly useful for training in situations where treats may not be practical or available. Great job Sherlock! ❤

[@maggiedevlin6187]

Such good advice! And also, I'd like to say thank you for your toothpaste recommendation. Ava Maria, our 3 month old Cav puppy loves her teeth brushing time!!

[@squibitbessy7382]

Aww he’s such a cutie. I wonder if his being mostly hand reared and tho only surviving puppy has made him even more of a people dog.

[@chaskat35]

That could be - I forged a close bond with him from birth, having hand-fed him regularly every day and night.

[@1611_KJB]

Outstanding. I use treats all the time and we switched to Cheerios because of you, but I haven't tried treatless training. Our Cavs, four of five, also thrive on affection, so we're going to give it a try. Thanks.

[@janhankins911]

By all means, give it a try. It works wonderfully with some dogs. But remember, it works wonderfully with "some" (but not "all") dogs. I like to "keep 'em guessing" and my dogs don't know what kind of reward they're going to get (they know they'll get one, they just don't know which one). Sometimes they get food, sometimes they get "silly mom" (where I give them lots of praise, lots of enthusiastic petting, talk to them in an excited, higher-pitched voice, jump up and down, tell them how wonderful and smart they are, etc.--in other words, look like a fool), sometimes they get a favorite toy and a short game of tug-of-war. Keep your dog's preferences in mind. Working in rescue, I've had way too many fearful dogs that if I were to do "silly mom", it wouldn't be a reward, it would be a punishment for them. And keep in mind, there are some dogs who like "odd" things. I had a little French Bulldog in one of my training classes that wasn't "into" food, praise, or toys. What lit this little dog's fire was toilet paper (yes, toilet paper). After checking with a vet to make sure it was safe for the dog, the dog got a tiny little piece of wadded up toilet paper as his reward (his reward came safely right out the other end). There was another dog (a Rottweiler) that was very nonchalant about meat-based treats (he could take them or leave them). But oyster crackers? He'd stand on his head for oyster crackers. I worked with a goat who loved Vanilla Wafers. So be reasonable (don't use something you know is going to be harmful to your dog---like chocolate) as a reward, but if it's safe, use it. As for me? I'm not a dog and since chocolate isn't harmful to anything but my waistline, chocolate please!

[@janhankins911]

There is, technically, a difference between "wait" and "stay", (wait means I want you to stay here temporarily and then I'm going to ask you to do something; stay means you stay here and I'm not going to ask you to do anything, you just hang out here and don't move) but that's neither here nor there. Training without treats (using affection as your reinforcer) is absolutely wonderful and fine. I have a little dog of my own who'd rather work for "mom cuddles" than treats. However, a reinforcer isn't a "bribe" (totally different things), so don't confuse the two. You're not bribing Sherlock, you're giving him a reward for a job well done (just like humans like a reward for a job well done--like a paycheck. Is your paycheck a "bribe"?). Next give a cue ONCE (not Sherlock wait, Sherlock wait, Sherlock wait) because Sherlock thinks the cue is "Sherlock wait, Sherlock wait, Sherlock wait" instead of "Sherlock wait"--if you say it once, I don't have to do it because I don't have to do it until you say it three times. Always remember to set your dog up for success. Here, you're setting Sherlock up to fail because he doesn't know what "Sherlock, wait" means and you walked too far away and (of course) Sherlock wants to be with you so he went to you. You set him up to fail. You should say "Sherlock wait" and take ONE step back, immediately return and give your reward (whether it be food, praise, or a toy). Once he can "wait" when you take one step back, you say "Sherlock wait" and take two steps back. If Sherlock isn't successful, you do just what you've done here--return Sherlock to his original spot and try again. Technically, though, even that is giving Sherlock a reward (you're paying attention to him--his reward--when you return him to his original spot). At one point, Sherlock got up and went over to sniff something. That's called a "displacement behavior". Sherlock was confused, didn't understand what you wanted, and he "checked out" or "opted out" of the training as it was stressful for him. SET YOUR DOG UP FOR SUCCESS (not failure). You've got the right idea, your execution is just a bit off. Of course, you have to decide if you want to continue backing away from Sherlock (as you've done here) or whether you want to turn around and walk away (with your back facing Sherlock). That's a totally different thing (to the dog) and is much more difficult for the dog. To train that, I recommend using the "back away method" and get that to where it's "reliable" (the dog is getting it right 4 out of 5 times or 5 out of 5 times), then you "start over" by saying "Sherlock wait" and turning your back to Sherlock and if he's successful, you immediately turn around and praise him. Then take a step away, etc. And don't make the mistake of adding "distance" and "duration" at the same time. Here you're working on "distance" (how far away you get from Sherlock while he waits). Work on duration (how long Sherlock waits) SEPARATELY. Dogs are amazingly intelligent little critters, but the don't speak a human language (although that's becoming debatable; there is some evidence that dogs understand a lot more of our spoken language than we used to think) and they don't understand human "rules" (which seem silly to many dogs; waiting isn't a "natural behavior" for dog and it appears silly to them). So if you want your dog to abide by human rules (and you do), then you have to teach your dog to do so, as you're doing here. Just be careful to set your dog up for success, break the behavior down into tiny little mini steps (you really can't explain to the dog, "now when I say 'wait', I want you to wait here until I call you come to me") so you have to show the dog what you want them to do. Play the "clicker" game with your family. Get a clicker (available at many pet supply stores and on line) and decide what you want to "train" your family member to do. Pick something simple, like sit in a particular chair. You can't say "I'd like you to sit in that particular chair, please". You have to communicate by "showing" them what you want them to do. As they approach the right chair you click, if they walk away from the chair you don't click. You keep clicking behavior that is approaching what you want the person to do until they've accomplished the desired action. Than trade and you be the "dog" and have your family member decide what simple behavior they want to do. Put yourself in the dog's position. It isn't easy! If you think it is, play the clicker game and that will divest you of that notion immediately.

[@susandeslippe6449]

Thank you for the training tips! Ours are also extremely affectionate, and I am not having good results with their training. I like the idea of walking back to them with a restart and will try that. Sherlock is SO adorable !❤

[@janhankins911]

@@susandeslippe6449 If you're not having good results, you may wish to consider a positive trainer or attending positive training classes. These trainers/classes should stress "positive reinforcement" and NEVER use aversive techniques like a choke or prong collar! If they bring those out, leave immediately.

[@chaskat35]

Over the years, I've dabbled in both Obedience and Agility. I always used "stay" for the long sit and long down in Obedience, whereas "wait" was for short pauses (such as the table). It was a great distinction for dogs that were trained in both, but for everyday house companions, and for conformation show dogs, I don't make the distinction.

[@annaritabarile4893]

Scusa Charlie, internet non prendeva, e ho pensato che non inviava il messaggio!!🤦🤦😅

[@annaritabarile4893]

Ciao Charlie, Annarita dall'Italia, felicissima di vedervi! Complimenti Sherlock! È sempre più bello è molto intelligente 😉! Buona giornata ❤

[@annaritabarile4893]

Ciao Charlie, Annarita dall'Italia, felicissima di vedervi! Complimenti Sherlock! È sempre più bello è molto intelligente 😉! Buona giornata ❤

[@annaritabarile4893]

Ciao Charlie, Annarita dall'Italia, felicissima di vedervi! Complimenti Sherlock! È sempre più bello è molto intelligente 😉! Buona giornata ❤