Margaret Davis posted on January 21, 2009 20:53
Treats are not the reason that dogs become dependent on them! The way that you use the treat is the culprit.
Use the treat as a lure to easily move your dog into the position you desire. As your dog learns to reliably move into the position, the role of the treat changes. The treat is now a reward for a job well done. Put the treat out of sight. (Bait bags are rarely out of sight) Deliver the treat to your dog for assuming the correct position on command. Make sure that your dog is still in the desired position when he receives the treat! Pretend that you are a slot machine instead of a vending machine. Keep your dog guessing as to when he will actually receive a treat.
Avoid using the treat to bribe your dog into assuming the correct position. Humans have a tendency to ask the dog to ‘sit’. When the dog does not ‘sit’ the human asks again in a slightly louder tone. When the dog still does not ‘sit’ the human fishes in his pocket and produces a treat. He then asks the dog to ‘sit’ again while showing the dog the treat. The result of this teaching style is the dog that refuses to ‘sit’ until he sees his treat!
It is very important that you understand the difference between lures, rewards, and bribes. Your dog already understands the difference!