Using lures to attract the dog

Prompted shaping relies on using food as a lure to get the dog to perform an action or get into a certain position. For beginners this is a quicker way to get results from your dog. But it is very important that the lures be removed from any learning process quickly otherwise the dog will become hooked on the food lure. The idea isn't to get the dog following the food but rather working toward the click/reward.For some dogs a lure is more of a distraction than benefit so if you are having problems with your dog just do away with the lure altogether. Start with the lure in your hand and have your dog get into the correct position. When he does, click and treat. Repeat this a total of six times and then on the seventh repeat all the actions but without the food in your hand. If your dog performs correctly then click and treat. If not repeat the process again, six times with the lure and then the seventh without. By doing it this way you can see if the dog understands what you are trying to teach. By taking the lure away, your dog is learning that he is performing the action for the click not the lure.

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