Katie and I have been working on “shake” this week. She learned it in about 2 seconds as long as treats were involved. But no treat? No shake! I don’t have video but if I did, you’d see that she just grudingly offers her paw when I ask for shake, even with the treat. She knows what I want, but she doesn’t want to give in and play the game. She’s way too smart for me!
Today I have the afternoon off. I promised her we’d do something fun. That usually involves car rides and the park. So off we go!
Change Is Hard 
June 16, 2009 at 4:29 pm
lol, Katie does sound very smart. Maybe you could try toys and games as a reward if the treats aren’t motivating her enough. I’m a big foodie myself though. Mum does variable treating, so sometimes I’ll get 5 bits of treat, sometimes one, sometimes just a pat, then I never know when the jackpot could be coming.
~lickies, Ludo
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June 16, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I think Katie is training you! LOL.
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June 16, 2009 at 6:13 pm
That Katie is just too smart! I don’t blame her at all for not shaking if there’s no treat involved!
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June 16, 2009 at 9:46 pm
None of my dogs have ever really wanted to do their tricks if there wasn’t food involved. After many, many repetitions over a long time, they’d do something cautiously if I asked and there was no food visible, and then might or might not repeat. I never felt any need to ask them to do things w/out treats, although even when treats are there, I might work up to asking them to do 3 or 4 things in a row w/out a treat between.
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June 16, 2009 at 10:50 pm
I agree, if she works she should get paid (as in treats!)
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June 17, 2009 at 6:23 am
Doggy Labor laws (bet you didn’t know there was such a thing) DEMANDS a treat for each task done….at least that is what Reilly tells me!!!!
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