Treat delivery

[Karen]

Cassie snatches at treats used for reward. This results in my fingers getting caught on her super sharp teeth. I have trained a gentle treat delivery with a closed fist which only opens when she pulls back but this isn’t useful for treating on the go when practicing loose lead walking etc.

I have tried delivery from my palm and from between thumb and forefinger. Both result in wounds! I think that thumb and forefinger would be better if only I could stop half a finger ending up in the pups mouth! I do wonder if my timing is out (not releasing treat early enough) or whether she is just very bitey and nothing I do will help.

Has anyone successfully managed a treat snatcher?

 

[kateincornwall]

Reuben was a snatcher, for his meals and for treats , I read about this method and it worked ! You put the dog into a sit , it doesnt matter too much if they wont do it ! The next bit is the important part , you face them with the food , hold it to your chest whilst saying Wait , then moved it to your stomach area whilst again saying Wait . Hold the food there for a few seconds and then either to the floor to their mouths . It helps to teach them to restrain and be patient , Reuben learned this very quickly , good luck xxx

 

[HAH]

Cassie snatches at treats used for reward. This results in my fingers getting caught on her super sharp teeth. I have trained a gentle treat delivery with a closed fist which only opens when she pulls back but this isn’t useful for treating on the go when practicing loose lead walking etc.

I have tried delivery from my palm and from between thumb and forefinger. Both result in wounds! I think that thumb and forefinger would be better if only I could stop half a finger ending up in the pups mouth! I do wonder if my timing is out (not releasing treat early enough) or whether she is just very bitey and nothing I do will help.

Has anyone successfully managed a treat snatcher?

Does Cassie have a hand touch behaviour? We did this with Stilton, once he knew hand touch we'd ask for a touch and then treat. On walks, this engaged his thinking mode enough to interrupt the snatchy impulse. It takes a bit more mechanics from the handler, but can be really helpful for all sorts of on-walk scenarios. It's a great recall/regain focus tool as well. I've got a little variation now he's a bit older where I do a count down with my fingers while saying it out loud - 3 (hold out 3 fingers at thigh level), 2 (hold out two), 1 (you get it!) and present palm backwards for hand touch. Usually my reward is a little wet nose dab, which gets a 'yes!' from me and a high value reward. I like this becaue it introduced a bit of a pattern game too, and allows enough thinking time to get engagement even from a distance; it also rewards check ins. Kipper loves it too as it's a welcome game with a tasty ending!

 

[Selina27]

I've always given Cassie her rewards from the flat of my hand, like to a horse.
At some stage in our training mayhem I learnt to introduce catch and nine times out of ten that is how I delivery any treats nowadays, but I think she was older than your Cassie when I introduced it and you do have train it as being accurate matters. It works for my girl and she loves it, I think it increases the value of the reward too.

 

[Karen]

Reuben was a snatcher, for his meals and for treats , I read about this method and it worked ! You put the dog into a sit , it doesnt matter too much if they wont do it ! The next bit is the important part , you face them with the food , hold it to your chest whilst saying Wait , then moved it to your stomach area whilst again saying Wait . Hold the food there for a few seconds and then either to the floor to their mouths . It helps to teach them to restrain and be patient , Reuben learned this very quickly , good luck xxx

Thanks Kate. I tried this and as you say it does work really well to get her to take the treat gently. I will keep practising this in the hope it will cross over into taking treats for training.

Does Cassie have a hand touch behaviour? We did this with Stilton, once he knew hand touch we'd ask for a touch and then treat. On walks, this engaged his thinking mode enough to interrupt the snatchy impulse. It takes a bit more mechanics from the handler, but can be really helpful for all sorts of on-walk scenarios. It's a great recall/regain focus tool as well. I've got a little variation now he's a bit older where I do a count down with my fingers while saying it out loud - 3 (hold out 3 fingers at thigh level), 2 (hold out two), 1 (you get it!) and present palm backwards for hand touch. Usually my reward is a little wet nose dab, which gets a 'yes!' from me and a high value reward. I like this becaue it introduced a bit of a pattern game too, and allows enough thinking time to get engagement even from a distance; it also rewards check ins. Kipper loves it too as it's a welcome game with a tasty ending!

We do have a Touch behaviour but I haven’t tried it with more than my right hand facing her. I will try to extend it to both hands and backwards as well. It does sound like a really good game for walks!

I've always given Cassie her rewards from the flat of my hand, like to a horse.
At some stage in our training mayhem I learnt to introduce catch and nine times out of ten that is how I delivery any treats nowadays, but I think she was older than your Cassie when I introduced it and you do have train it as being accurate matters. It works for my girl and she loves it, I think it increases the value of the reward too.

My ability to throw a treat (or indeed anything) is appallingly bad. I have been known to hit myself on the head while throwing a dummy! I think I will stick with a simple feed like a horse approach!