Training a dog not motivated by food?

[DarlingBri]

Surprisingly for a rescue, Eimear isn't motivated by food. We've got potty training and leash training down because she's motivated by a desire to please, which is lovely. But I'd like to move on to sit and lie down, and we can't even get a sit out of her because she won't follow the food. She's totally uninterested and I'm utterly stumped.

I'm sure this will be another of those instances where my dog is smarter than me and I'm missing the obvious, but can anyone suggest how to train a smart, not-food-motivated boxer in basic obedience?

Thank you!

[gmacleod]

No problem As long as you can find something else that does spin her wheels. In fact, not many boxers are food-motivated enough to go through training classes with just food as a reward.

Finding "the reward" isn't always that easy... but a good starting point is games Does Eimear like games such as tug? I find that one works extremely well with boxers - it builds upon their excitement, rather than diminishing it. I have no problem at all in using the leash as a tug toy for a rewarding game of tug in the middle of a training class (or at the park, etc), though you could take along a special toy for the purpose if you prefer.

PS: Reserving that as a "special" game only for rewards helps to hold it's value.

[DarlingBri]

Nothing seems to spin her wheels I'm beginning to seriously wonder if the dog is depressed and what I'm supposed to do about that.

She'll play with a squeeky toy if there's only me in the house, but if DH is here, she won't respond to it. I did try to use it as sit bait, but she's not confident enough to go after anything if you withdraw it. She just accepts its gone and looks sad. Therefore, the minute you move it back over her head, she gives up on it.

Actually, maybe it's me who's getting depressed about her over-submission. She's a lovely animal, but this is really very, very challenging.

[Lola's mum]

Lola isn't food motivated either but I found if I cooked her up some chicken breasts and diced them into small pieces or liver she'd more or less do anything

[DarlingBri]

I've tried chicken breasts, which she loves to eat in her bowl or out of your hand, but not as a training treat. I baked her custom made wholemeal, cheddar cheese and garlic treats tonight, and she loves them - we call the Eimear Cookies - but again, as soon as you move it back over her head to encourage her to sit, she accepts it's gone and gives up on it.

She's the opposite of food aggressive... food submissive?

She really, really need to learn to at least sit PDQ. We have a train journey coming up at the start of October and she must sit on the train

[gmacleod]

How does she respond to excited praise? The sort where you get down to her level.

If she won't follow the food above her head, then that technique isn't really going to work and you're going to have to modify your approach to suit the dog.

With a baby puppy, it usually helps if, in addition to moving the food up and backwards, you also put your hand under the pup's bottom (just above the hocks) and sort of scoop him into a sit. Praising madly as his bottom starts to descend. Of course, it still helps a lot that he continues to focus on the food as much as he can.

I wonder if an adaptation of that would help Eimear? Don't take the food out of her reach - so she's more likely to remain focussed on it. But just give her a little push on the rear legs, just above the hocks - to encourage her to bend those legs. Much praise when it happens, and give her the treat. OK, it's not a full sit - but it's a step toward it. That's the sort of thing you can build upon until you're rewarding a full sit.

[DarlingBri]

I lay kibble at your shrine

She's conked out on the couch from our mega park romp this morning, but when we get up from our nap I will absolutely try that.

I also had our very first, completely out of the blue success with fetch this morning - she chased a ball - so hey, I may actually have a tool to use with her if she maintains interest in balls!

How does she respond to excited praise? The sort where you get down to her level.

Hmmm. She doesn't respond - she doesn't lick or snuggle or wag or anything - but she knows what it means and it must work because it's what we used for house training and lead training. (I swear the dog thinks her name is Good Girl...) That was easier, of course, because you can praise while the desired behaviour is happening; you can't really "good girl" a dog into a sit, I don't think. But obviously, if she ever sits, she'll get a TON of that!