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Using food as a reward is our default as it's easy, convenient and successful. However what happens if our companion seemingly isn't food motivated?
As a dog trainer this is something that comes up with clients, prospective clients, and the genreal public, but it is something I really enjoy working with. In this months blog I will take you through potential reasons this could be happening, the joy what it brings, and debunking the general myth behind it.
Food Motivation
So lets start with what food motivation is. Food motivation is widely understood as a dog wanting and enjoying working for food types as a reward system in training, including (importantly so) outside the home.
They may have a preference for different types of food for different 'jobs'/tasks such as higher value food like chicken and pate for recalls, or Nature's Menu and TubiDog Pate for loose-lead walking, and then lower value food such as biscuits for positions.
Preferences on types will vary from dog to dog and situation to situation as they are all individuals.
But My Dog Isn't Food Motivated...
But what do we do when they are seemingly not motivated by food?
So first things first, all dog's need to eat to survive, so all dogs are food motivated to a degree. Next thing we need to think about is are they motivated inside the home but not outside?
If this is the case this is where we fall into saying they aren't food motivated, but what we need to do is ask the question; Why is this happening?
There can be several reasons for this:
Overwhlemed by something (e.g. the environment, the equipment they are wearing)
Stressed
Anxious
Shut-down
Over-stimulated (can look like over-excitement)
Over-excited
Dislike of equipment
Discomfort/pain
More often then not one or more of these is the real reason(s), and by changing our approach and the environment we will see the dog start to eat outside and get success.
Getting Success
So how do we achieve this? Well we need to start off by breaking it right down. If equipment sensitivity is part of it then this is an area we need to break down and build up slowly. It may be that changing equipment can help to achieve success.
If we are using equipment which constricts in anyway on a part of the dogs body, be that neck, nose or ribs, this can contribute to a dog shutting off due to a dislike of the sensation. Standard flat collars and 'Y' fronted harnesses are the most comforatble for most dogs. However if you try to introduce these slowly with rewards, and they are still massively avoidant then we might need to ask another question on comfortability and discomfort in the body.
Once we've ruled out/supported to improve the equipment being more positive we can the focus on the bigger picture, the effect of the environment on the dog. To do this, again we need to slow it right down.
Start off by having your dog's favourite enrichment feeder or similar (snuffle mat, lickimat, scrunched up towel, upturned washtub) with their favourite high value food in or on in the door way and just wait there with them and load it up. Ideally we want it raised to height that is between their upper front legs and chest.
If you are having success in an increase in engagement, food consumption and a slowing down of the dog I want you to place a second 'station' just outside the door, a few paces away. Head towards it and say 'One' place a or several on it, wait for you dog to potentially eat it. Remain loose on your lead.
Then head back to the original one in the door way, load up and wait.
Repeat. If you are getting success of food consumption and an increase in engagement, place another 'station' outside and add this in the sequence.
*Important - Give your dog lots of breaks, have water available, and wait for them to be ready. GO SLOW.
It is likely that this will last around 10-20minutes including some breaks, then your dog will ready to finish. If we are asking them to come out of a default mode it is hard work and tiring.
See how you get on and feel free to share your progress.
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