Play Rewards

[Alana McGee]

I need to start really thinking about a good non-food reward to start with Ashley. Most likely a modified version of tug with me on my knees, since tug is by far her favorite game. And I don’t mind taking a toy with us.I was wondering have you found any really good personal play games, so when we forget to bring tug-tug (her tug toy) that work in the forest where you don’t risk tripping over a log?

[Alana McGee]

Sandra

We often play tug with sticks on the ground. What’s his name loves to trim branches and a sit stay while I hide is fun. It takes me forever to go one hundred feet and hide behind something, so it is great training.

Brother Bruce and I start walking away from each other and instead of calling the dog, we tell the dog to go to the other person. We use lamb lung and bison or chicken jerky as treats. Both high protein low fat

[Alana McGee]

Annie:
Good idea! There’s never a shortage of sticks! She does like playing with them in the yard.
Ashley makes little piles of toys, sticks, bones, rocks, a log for the fire – not sure how she picked it up. 🙂
Just piles of things she likes to play with.

[Alana McGee]

Lois:

We play with sticks. Pine cones are another favorite. I collect a bunch and toss them like balls. Sticks are the favorite though.

[Alana McGee]

alana:

I second pine cones. and sticks in close proximity. If you can get her to take a stick in her mouth (so not biting you) you can personal play/ rub etc. This is what I do/ am developing currently with my aussie who is not food or toy motivated in general, but LOVES to wiggle. Lots of loose body posture and wiggling. Just make sure you have room to avoid injury. we look rather silly during rewards, but it’s fun.

[Alana McGee]

Sandra:

in our camp it isn’t wiggle but total body/ head shaking and grrr-ing. It is funny when he takes on a tree. If I let go of my end, he brings it right back and almost puts it into my hand.

[Alana McGee]

Annie:

Thanks everyone. We will try everything. I am finding when treats don’t work a good game of tug works. But she also likes fetch and sticks and shake and assorted different versions of paw touches – some sort of interaction between us.

[Alana McGee]

I sometimes play a little hide and seek too in the woods. I’ll sit behind a tree and just watch. I’m also okay with mouthing my arms in a jacket but they know to mouth and not chomp. Works well when I’m hiding.

[Alana McGee]

Sandra:

A game Mr Tippet has loved since the day I adopted him is “Oh!!! I lost my glove, where’s my glove!” The rule is you must drop it … can’t toss it. I drop it behind a tree or in a patch of grass. He seems to rate it a strong 9 or 10. At first, I left it visibly on the path, then higher or behind or longer duration. It probably one reason his scenting ability is so good.

Another reason. Is he is a.PWD, his hair grows down over his eyes. We go thru a lot of barettes

[Alana McGee]

alana:

@ Sandra. The Barette idea is not something I have tried at all. But will 🙂 for civilian life. I like the long hair on Luc & Lo’s faces (not bodies for hunting- too much sticks to them) as it protects them when they are pushing through things- and their eyesight is less than stellar though, so that will be fun 🙂

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