Scott Linden Outdoors

B.B. King sang “the thrill is gone,” lamenting a love lost to indifference. Luckily, Flick isn’t howling the same tune – but his thrill has changed.

I’m a big believer in food treats, especially for a pup. Virtually anything elementary is possible with hot dog bits, from “here” to “fetch” to “kennel.” But nobody I know carries a vest-full of doggie delectables on a hunt and some commands simply don’t lend themselves to food bribes. Mainly those where you want a pup to do something away from you, such as “whoa.” It’s counterproductive to expect a dog to slam on the brakes 50 feet from you, then wait patiently as you trot over to deliver a liver tidbit.

So, what to do?

All those other things: verbal praise and touch have been higher on the menu here. I’ve also found that (perhaps) as a dog matures, food has less allure than a pat on the back, literally. Maybe pups’ emotional needs evolve as they grow, and a more “man to man” reward system has value to them.

No matter what we are trying to accomplish, careful observation of Flick before, during, and after the command and it’s execution have guided me. Do a drill, praise with a scratch behind the ears on completion. Do it again a few minutes later, see if he’s complying with gusto. If not, try a firm stroke along the backbone. Or a quiet “good boy” as he rests his chin on my knee. Or a treat – he may simply not be ready to forego the goodies just yet.