Hi everyone,
I am doing a study into what motivates or stimulates our dogs.
It may be a special toy or food etc,or something more diverse? Please let me Know what pushes the right buttons for your dog.Any treat recipies greatfully recieved.
Thanks Mark.

Glazby my boxer is motivated by:

The words Walkies/Trots/Din Dins/Wee Wees/ - all of which he knows and will jump straight up for

He's also motivated by food - anything though, he's really not fussy!!

And also motivated by toys - teddy bears, balls and strangely coke bottles (he loves to try and get the tops off of them)!!

LIVER CAKE!!!!!!!!!
1/2 lb liver
2 eggs
4 ozs SR flour
(I add carrot to mine.Some add garlic)

blend together in a food processor and bake

Archer

Thanks for the info, will try the liver cake.

My working cocker is particularly motivated by his green frisbee.  His main aim is to have his frisbee thrown for him to retrieve therefore this is what I use in training.  My English Springer is food motivated so the liver cake archer mentioned is a frequent recipe in our house.  My American cocker would also do anything for something to eat, and my show English Cocker will do anything for whatever the others have that he wants.  :)

I got a training dummy covered in rabbit fur which my working cocker Douglas goes crazy for, however can't seem to ger my show cocker Oliver going with anything apart from sausage and then he's still not what you would call enthusiastic.

Sometimes they just don't have the inclination!  My American rarely brakes into anything other than a trot whereas the others will tear around the fields.  He is far from enthusiastic when it comes to anything other than food, but that's just him! :)

.Ellie my Beardie is motivated by a battered old football which she found on a walk when she was a young puppy and insisted she was carrying it home!!!
We hide it in the house and it only comes out for training and playtime in the park no other ball will do!

once she sees I have her ball other dogs ,children, adults become invisible and I get her undivided attention sits stands downs and heelwork are easy  then we have a match!!!!!

Mark, not sure if you are interested, but John  Rogerson has done a great little booklet all about how to get a dog interested in toys etc and how to get the most un interested dog excited about toys used for training :)

My dog loves her Kong on  a rope, her big raggy tugger, and her funball.

Also, when breaking training down into small steps we tend to use food: cheese, sausage, chicken.

hth
Lindsay
X

Hi lindsay, Do you know where I could get a copy?

Food doesnt motivate Mack at all - he is motivated by the sight of his lead! If he could go out for 10 short walks a day he would!

ANything edible...best thing is liver cake as already suggested.  dad just learn't how to make it!!!  We also add in bread crumbs if you are a household where no-one eats crusts...

One of my aussies will do anything for a game of ball, she stayed overe here before crufts....and found her old obedience ball (we don't do obedience anymore) and she was sooo happy and would do anything!

Most of all though, I don't always have access to food, so a great big fuss and cuddle at the end they enjoy aswell!

My coat and wellies, oh, and rabbit's and pheasants !!!

max will do absoloutely anything for any type of food! he is  not fussy if its edible he would do back flips for it if he could. he is a lab though

Liver cake here too, and beef cake, both with garlic.  During working, NO motivation is required! :D
Dawn.

Pheasant, duck and rabbits, camo clothing and a gun!

Abby used to love liver cake, tripe burgers(had to be the ones from sweeden) and cheese we are trying to get her more interested toys they work for a while then she gets bored with them

Any type of food and getting my rucksack out as that means we are off to agility!