Kona (5mo coonhound) is really good about obeying commands when I have treats to praise him. I read before that during training you should praise with treats 4/5 times and keep verbal praise all the time. We've gotten to the point where he knows 'sit', 'down', 'come', 'break' and somewhat 'stay' when I have treats, even if I don't give him a treat as praise.
When I don't have treats, especially outdoors, I have problems commanding his attention. I know he's a puppy and gets easily distracted, so I know this is hard enough to begin with without treats. Am I trying to rush things? Should I be keeping treats on me at all times when we're playing outside? The thing is, once he knows I have treats that's all he wants. I don't give it to him and he starts barking at me. I've taught him 'no bark', and he stops barking but he'll be all over me. I've tried ignoring him, turning my back on him, etc. When I do, he'll stop, sit, and wait. Which is good, and I praise him when he does that. But as soon as I praise him for waiting patiently he's all over me again.
When I do a training session and I'm done, how do I let him know it's playtime and he's not getting anymore treats for a while? I've tried using his toys to engage him playfully...but he just sits and waits again. He's totally different than our other dog, who was all about playing in his hayday. Kona doesn't like to play (at least not the way Hunter does...fetch, tug of war, chase me, etc) and would rather lay out in the sun eating...chewing on a rawhide, sniffing me for treats, etc.
I guess I'm wondering if there's a middle ground where I can command his attention if he's about to go run into the neighbors yard and call him back and not have him all over me looking for treats. How do I know he's really learning these commands if he looks at me obviously confused when I don't have treats?
When I don't have treats, especially outdoors, I have problems commanding his attention. I know he's a puppy and gets easily distracted, so I know this is hard enough to begin with without treats. Am I trying to rush things? Should I be keeping treats on me at all times when we're playing outside? The thing is, once he knows I have treats that's all he wants. I don't give it to him and he starts barking at me. I've taught him 'no bark', and he stops barking but he'll be all over me. I've tried ignoring him, turning my back on him, etc. When I do, he'll stop, sit, and wait. Which is good, and I praise him when he does that. But as soon as I praise him for waiting patiently he's all over me again.
When I do a training session and I'm done, how do I let him know it's playtime and he's not getting anymore treats for a while? I've tried using his toys to engage him playfully...but he just sits and waits again. He's totally different than our other dog, who was all about playing in his hayday. Kona doesn't like to play (at least not the way Hunter does...fetch, tug of war, chase me, etc) and would rather lay out in the sun eating...chewing on a rawhide, sniffing me for treats, etc.
I guess I'm wondering if there's a middle ground where I can command his attention if he's about to go run into the neighbors yard and call him back and not have him all over me looking for treats. How do I know he's really learning these commands if he looks at me obviously confused when I don't have treats?