people want to cut treats out as fast as possible in order to prove (mostly to themselves) that the dog really understands. Don’t rush! You want to really make sure that your dog understands what is expected of them before you increase the criteria or make the game significantly harder, such as by taking away treats. I promise you won’t always have to lure your dog into sitting with a piece of hotdog, but if you try to remove treats too quickly or ask too much of your dog before they really understand the game you’re playing together, your end trick is going to be inconsistent and sloppy. It also will add stress and tension to your relationship with your dog. Dogs want to play with us, they want to work with us. Dogs don’t want to irritate or frustrate us. Part of being an ethical play partner for our dogs is to communicate as clearly as we possibly can to them.
