My old method of bringing treats to the dog park was a disaster

I used to just toss a handful of training treats loose in my coat pocket before heading to Riverside Park. Last Tuesday my dog smelled them from three feet away and literally climbed up my leg trying to get them. Now I use a small belt pouch I picked up for $8 at PetSmart, keeps everything clean and hands free. Has anyone else had their dog turn into a furry magnet over snacks?

2 comments

2 Comments

mark73124d ago

...and ended up with a pocket full of crushed dog biscuits that looked like I'd been grinding them up myself. That belt pouch is a lifesaver, I use one too after my beagle almost turned my jeans into a chew toy. What really worked for me was switching to a clicker and rewarding away from other dogs at first, so he didn't associate the park with treat time. Have you tried keeping a small treat in your hand during training in the park to redirect him from other dogs?

paul23323d ago

Clicker training was a game changer for my Aussie but honestly what nobody talks about is the timing. Most people click too late or too early and wonder why the dog is confused. I messed up for weeks before I realized I was clicking after my dog already lost focus. Also that treat in the hand thing works great but you gotta keep your hand still and low or they'll just stare at it the whole time lol. Another thing I found out by accident is that if you use really smelly treats like freeze dried liver, it helps a ton with keeping their head on you in distracting places like the park. Just watch out because those things crumble to dust if you squeeze them even a little bit.