10/31/2025
I say this all the time to start fading treats out but many don’t listen or struggle. Here is a great step by step to do it! There are more than one way to do this as well!
"My dog won't do what I ask unless I have a treat!" 😧
"I don't want to be bribing my dog with food!" 😠
Have you heard or said either of these things before? We have heard them a lot, and there is something that can be done about it - you just need to make sure you 'fade out the lure'!
To fade out a lure all you need to do is:
🔹 Lure the behaviour with food or another lure, until they have successfully done it 3-5 times in a row.
🔹 Lure the behaviour with an 'invisible treat'. This means you have no treat/lure in your hand but your dog may think you do.
🔹 When they have done the correct behaviour, then show your dog there was no treat/lure in your hand BUT still, reward from the other hand you did not use for the lure.
🔹You can then make the lure behaviour itself smaller and smaller until it becomes a subtle hand signal, or add in a verbal cue.
🔹Once the dog can do the correct behaviour, you can gradually reward them less frequently.
This teaches the dog that even if they do not see a treat on you at the moment you ask for a particular correct behaviour, it does not mean one isn't coming, (getting rid of the need to 'bribe' the dog in order for them to do the behaviour).
This doesn't mean we stop rewarding our dog, to maintain a behaviour; rewards still need to occur, albeit less frequently, however, a reward is not a bribe as the dog doesn't know when it will be coming. These rewards do not always need to be food, but they do need to be rewarding to the dog, otherwise, they are not rewards!
It is also important to note that, as with any training, we shouldn't be forcing our dogs into any situations they are uncomfortable with using the luring technique. If you are ever unsure if your dog is comfortable, contact a professional for help. 💕
