I have talked with a couple of trainers in the last year that have something in common that I don't see to often. These guys start sitting and crate training puppies with hotdogs. These two fellas do not know each other, this is just different then what I do. When the trainer was working on sit he stuck a hotdog in his mouth and had the puppy look at him and spit the hotdog at him when he looked him in the eye. Well, I would think that the dog could learn to move from his sitting position to get the hotdog from the ground. The pup is 4 months old and should not have alot or any pressure on him at this point. I'm into making things really fun for the puppy at this age. I really think that sitting a puppy at 4months I would be more apt to stand with the puppy and just praise him. I would like to hear your opinions on this matter. I don't think it is wrong just another way to make things work. I just don't want to have a package of hotdogs to go hunting or training. Thanks
Hotdogs and obedience
DHR
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I have talked with a couple of trainers in the last year that have something in common that I don't see to often. These guys start sitting and crate training puppies with hotdogs. These two fellas do not know each other, this is just different then what I do. When the trainer was working on sit he stuck a hotdog in his mouth and had the puppy look at him and spit the hotdog at him when he looked him in the eye. Well, I would think that the dog could learn to move from his sitting position to get the hotdog from the ground. The pup is 4 months old and should not have alot or any pressure on him at this point. I'm into making things really fun for the puppy at this age. I really think that sitting a puppy at 4months I would be more apt to stand with the puppy and just praise him. I would like to hear your opinions on this matter. I don't think it is wrong just another way to make things work. I just don't want to have a package of hotdogs to go hunting or training. Thanks
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treat training is an extremely successful method for most pups....I use it and will always use it for pups under 4 months of age - I gradually wean them off treats when they understand and obey the command with good consistency....they get no more treats when formal ob starts.
Juli
Juli
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It is amazing what you can teach the little pups by using hot dogs! I use it to teach sit, here, down,heel, kennel. I even introduce casting to little puppies using hot dogs.
Andy
Andy
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Editing: ...it's all about the "timing" of the reward...hot dog, string cheese...
"kitchen work"..."pieces" of an exercise trained in very short sessions in the kitchen.
Hot dogs...you can get all meat, or organic all meat...no nitrates, salt etc..slice in half the long way and steam or boil. Cut up into little pieces...but large enough for pup to see. Little pieces of plain chicken or any meat(not fat, skin etc). Low fat Mozzerella..sp? .. sticks cut in strips so puppy can see them when held in your fingers...to lure into sit..or coming into you or around to heel position as it goes.
Some rewards, perhaps string cheese are low value...hot dog pieces might be high value..
Judy
"kitchen work"..."pieces" of an exercise trained in very short sessions in the kitchen.
Hot dogs...you can get all meat, or organic all meat...no nitrates, salt etc..slice in half the long way and steam or boil. Cut up into little pieces...but large enough for pup to see. Little pieces of plain chicken or any meat(not fat, skin etc). Low fat Mozzerella..sp? .. sticks cut in strips so puppy can see them when held in your fingers...to lure into sit..or coming into you or around to heel position as it goes.
Some rewards, perhaps string cheese are low value...hot dog pieces might be high value..
Judy
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347 Posts
If you want a better understanding of the training process and especially the reward part of it, there is a great book available. It is "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor. Karen is a former dolphin trainer and an expert on animal behavior modification. Her book is entertaining, a good read and the best overview of the animal training process that I have read.
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390 Posts
Hot Dog bits are a great teaching aid at 7 weeks. Plus all your friends and neighbors will be totally impressed when 8 week old fluff ball comes flying towards you across the field at the sound of “Here” when their 2 yr old fido gives them the finger. 
I don't do the spitting thing, but hey if it works for them......
I don't do the spitting thing, but hey if it works for them......
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390 Posts
You are right the dogs do think a kibble of dog food is a treat. However the reason you use a soft moist small tidbit at 7 weeks, is because it takes less time for the puppy to eat/process the treat. The puppy won’t get as full as fast (lose interest).
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283 Posts
I use puperoni. The Jakie Mertens video uses the same thing. The pup needs something to chew quickly and keep focus on the handler.
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In my training at school we used hot dogs. First step is to hold the hot dogs in your hand, the next step is to put them in your mouth and spit a peice into our hand to give to the dog (this hides them from the dog) this is used for weaning the pups off of the hot dogs. We would sometimes spit the hot dog from our mouth to the dog, accompanied by "watch" this helped teach the dogs to watch us. You notice it mostly in heeling, the dog will look up at the person's face, just sort of to check in.
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Same here!
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Walmart sells these grilled chicken strips in a cardboard can...like 3 bones. have surmized they are pretty much nondigestable BUT the mutts love em. Can imagine training a puppy without them.
JK
JK
At a buck or 2 a pack,,hot dogs are probably your best training treat for a pup. When the treat enters the dogs mouth there is usually no chewing. Just a quick gulp. This enables the pup to keep his focus on the task at hand. Coming out of the mouth developes focus on the handler.
In pups the food drive is usually the strongest and food is the best motivator. As they mature prey drive should over ride food drive and other motivaters can safely be introduced without throwing the dog out of balance.
There are plenty of people who are successful without using food in puppies,,,but if you are into excelerating behaviors then use that which motivates best.
Food is also used to lure the pup in position.
In puppies touching usually encourages play and often distracts the dog. The proper use of Praise should be taught a little later,,but thats another subject.
Don't confuse using food with bribing or begging,,, if you do it correctly they won't do either.
Also 1 hotdog can last 3 or 4 sessions so if your a cheapskate like me its affordable.
Pete
In pups the food drive is usually the strongest and food is the best motivator. As they mature prey drive should over ride food drive and other motivaters can safely be introduced without throwing the dog out of balance.
There are plenty of people who are successful without using food in puppies,,,but if you are into excelerating behaviors then use that which motivates best.
Food is also used to lure the pup in position.
In puppies touching usually encourages play and often distracts the dog. The proper use of Praise should be taught a little later,,but thats another subject.
Don't confuse using food with bribing or begging,,, if you do it correctly they won't do either.
Also 1 hotdog can last 3 or 4 sessions so if your a cheapskate like me its affordable.
Pete
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8,978 Posts
Judy, why do you cook the hot dogs? When I was a kid, we used to eat them cold from the pack. I know that isnt generally considered smart these days, but do they need to be cooked for pups?
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1,517 Posts
I use treats for early training and for parlor tricks, at the moment I have two that sneeze on command. Hot dogs, cheese, just about anything works.
Margo
Margo
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