Dog won't follow lure

[jessieraebaby2]

My dog will not follow the lure behind her head for the sit training. She just turned her head to the side. Not sure what to do

[JMFS]

Silly question, have you slowed down the motion for her and / or let her smell the treat first? When she's turning her head, is she turning towards, or away from the treat?

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi there!

Also, how old is your dog? Some young puppies have a hard time following movements. Are you moving the treat towards the back of her head or behind the head?

It should be a movement that goes from the nose area to the head area but not too much past the head area as that may encourage backing up. Below you will see pictures of the hand movement.

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/sit/

Your pup should follow the treat with the nose.

 

You may need to slow down the movement as Jennifer pointed out and/or practice nearby a wall/barrier if she is backing up. Be patient and keep trying as some pups need a little more time. Make sure to use super valuable treats and work in an area with little distractions. As soon as the sit happens, make sure to be fast to mark it (yes!, click of the clicker) and reward it before your pup gets up!

 

When a puppy or dog doesn't follow the treat and looks the other way, it is possible that you are dealing with a particularly submissive dog who is perhaps afraid of taking the treat and is showing a calming signal. Try to take baby steps and split the exercise into smaller segments. Let her first just sniff the treat and give it to her, then let her follow the treat with her nose an inch or so and let her have it, then progress to let her have the treat again half way through the luring hand movement, then progress to moving it towards the back the head and let her have it, then do the whole hand movement and wait for her to sit and give the treat (or even better a jackpot of treats) making sure you praise a whole lot.

 

If you are still struggling, let me know and we can try capturing rather than luring. I had to do that with a few particularly submissive/fearful dogs who were frightened of hand gestures near their faces or were too shy to take treats.