03/23/2026
Day one of training Winnie
What’s actually rewarding to this dog?
Food + chase > toys, biting, or personal play.
Food matters but context matters more. Taking food from a new person can add pressure, so it stops feeling truly rewarding. In this case, she wants the food, but she’s still unsure of me and will approach but then run backwards.
�If she moves into me, I am mindful to create space either stepping away or sending her away after the reward.
With many young dogs, I prefer to start with a “yes” marker to build them up and practice them coming back to me. But that doesn’t fit every dog.
For her, “get it” keeps things light, fun, and rewarding. She gets to move and chase, and we can work on building engagement before she’s comfortable approaching me.
Training isn’t one-size-fits-all. Don’t go to a trainer that puts every dog through the same program. 💛