When you are training your dog, it can seem easy to pull out a cookie and lure your dog to do something. But you need to ask yourself what learning will be taking place in the dog’s mind. Generally, it is “do nothing and I will get rewarded for it”. Luring can take away the learning for the dog as the trainer will “help” by showing the cookie and directing the dog.
Shaping as I learned many years ago, creates a “thinking dog” whose actions guide his understanding of what the behaviour we want is. We layer the training and reinforce his great choices in a timely fashion. With shaping, the dog is in control of the learning. I learned through this process how much joy that gives my dog and me and is why I continue to teach and train this way!
Many people want to stick to luring because shaping can seem difficult, but we can break this learning down for ourselves by starting with simple games. My ItsYerChoice game is an example… we are shaping our dog that he can get what he wants, by doing what we want, all in a simple fun game. Learning more about shaping is such a fantastic way to grow as trainers and our dog’s learning grows with us. Training with shaping creates thinking dogs who can reach their full potential of brilliance. Another compelling reason to embrace shaping is that if we are not shaping our dogs, they are shaping us.
We acknowledge that there are benefits to using food lures, but there are also drawbacks to be aware of.
Benefits of Using Food Lures
- Appears to be fast (but did the dog really learn the response or just follow the cookie?).
- Appears to be easy.
- Requires little understanding of dog training – anyone can use it or be taught to use it.
- Has a history of relative success (relative compared to the amazing and complex behaviours Bob and Marion Bailey trained animals to do with shaping).
Drawbacks of Using Food Lures
- Relies on “pattern training” rather than the dog’s understanding. Therefore trainers often advise you to repeat this cookie cutter technique x numbers of days.
- Rewards the inactivity of the dogs mind (if you do nothing I will lure you).
- Becomes a habit – what you learn first you learn best.
- Makes you a prisoner to the motivation value the lure has for the dog (either high or low).
- Limits the dog’s learning potential (there are many complex behaviours that can not be taught with luring).
- Limits the dog’s responses.
- Often reinforces behaviours you never want to see repeated (example: hesitation, non-compliance, distractibility).
Buzz, whose shaping I journaled that went on to become my book “Shaping Success“.
Questions to Consider
- What does the sight of a food lure reward for your dog?
- Does food luring facilitate learning or are food lures limiting the learning potential for your dog?
- Food luring relies on pattern training rather than teaching the dogs understanding; therefore you must repeat the responses many thousands of times with a lure before the dog starts to show some ability to reproduce the response without the lure.
- Knowing all that we now know about food lures, is food luring really faster or easier?
- How much drive did it transfer to the behaviour?
Training Reminder: Be aware of what RESPONSE you are rewarding each time you give out a cookie or toy.
What did you reward? Ask yourself what was that cookie for? Do I want to see that behaviour repeated? What did you intend to reinforce? Does the dog have clarity in what you are asking of him?
Rescue Bulldog mix Tater-Salad who many of you met recently, enjoying shaping with Kim and learning “get in”.
When shaping, if you bring the reward out ONLY after getting the desired response, you are getting transfer of value. It is classical conditioning at work within the context of operant conditioning (shaping). The dog pairs the value of the great reward with the work. Soon the dog gets all jazzed up at just the thought of being able to work (play) with you.
12 Steps to Making a Change
- Start to think “look for a response to reward” rather than “try to create a finished behaviour.” Re-train the way you think and respond to your dog’s training challenges. Try to re-condition the reflex to “find a cookie” when your dog struggles or is doing something you DON’T want him to do.
- You must constantly ask yourself; has my dog got D.A.S.H? If not, why? Resist the temptation to go for the food lure but rather work on creating “D” — changing the dog’s arousal state by changing his physiology (move!).
- You must be committed to practising mechanical skills prior to attempt to train anything with your dog. A break down in your mechanics, any time where the dog is left without focus from you, is equivalent to a “time out” in training. This continual bouts of inadvertent punishment on your part are shutting down your dog’s interest in training with you.
- Think, plan, do, review! All training has meaning. Document your training and if it is not working you will be able to identify why and readjust (if you always do what you’ve always done you will always get what you’ve always gotten right?!)
- You must accept the fact that the dog is allowed to make mistakes. Mistakes help identify that which is not going to be rewarded (Caution: be aware of the mistakes that are self rewarding).
- You must become more aware of the fact a response has a beginning, a middle and an ending and therefore you must be extremely particular about what you are rewarding. Do not absent-mindedly pass food to your dog!
- You must identify the differences between placement of the reward and food luring. Carefully place your rewards is a way to exponentially improve your training, luring has the potential of hindering learning.
- Timing, criteria and rate of reinforcement; this is the answer to all of your questions. Use video to become your own best critic.
- The dog must learn to ignore the food. Food is just another distraction in your training environment. If your dog is constantly following or nudging your hand he is telling you it is time to play another round of ItsYerChoice.
- You must learn to not respond to any dog that is not ignoring food (i.e. you must not “help” your dog by moving the hand with food in it out of the way as this actually is more exciting for the dog!).
- The dog must learn that you will allow him to offer responses on his own (play games like ItsYerChoice and Crate Games to help that happen).
- You must accept that your dog is only a reflection of your abilities as a dog trainer. Areas your dog needs work show a lack of understanding in your dog training fundamentals. It is all too easy to pull out a cookie and lure but what learning will be taking place in the dog’s mind. Split, split, split your training into layers.
While training a dog I constantly evaluate what the dog may view as having “value” during our work and play together. When a high-value reward is properly paired with a behaviour, that behaviour takes on the value of that reward (thus transfer of value). The dog is conditioned to view the behaviour as equal in reinforcement value to the reward itself. This is more fun for your dog and more fun for you!
When shaping, the effective application of science can allow our dogs to learn faster and have even more fun. My next blog post covers more on shaping with a video showing how the effective application of science allows our dogs to learn ten times faster. .
If you are a member of “Lurers Anonymous” you are in good company! Look at what you are luring and why, and be aware of what you are reinforcing when you are giving your dog cookies. Consider shaping to be one of the greatest gifts to give your dog … the ability to think, experiment, learn, and reach his full potential of brilliance. Let me know in the comments your thoughts on luring versus shaping.
Today I am grateful to be presenting alongside Dr. Sherman Canapp, Dr. Debra Canapp and Dr. Chris Zink this weekend for the Sports Medicine Conference for Performance Dog Owners in Maryland.
Loving shaping for working with my own dogs and also demonstrating its value to other pet owners (ie veterinary clients). I recently showed an owner that she could be absolved from the responsibility of cuing her dog to “leave it” by using IYC. The dog caught on very quickly. The owner recognized that neither of us actually needed to say anything to the dog to help him make good choices. Thanks, Susan and Team!
Hi, I am transitioning to shaping from luring. I have taught luring so long in basic obedience classes, but am gradually introducing shaping and discuss the value of letting a dog make a choice. I love it! Here is my question. How on earth do you teach a dog to sit without luring, or down. I was wondering if it is done with shaping when teaching go to “PLACE”. treating when waiting for them to sit, then waiting until they down, and treat for that? And then adding the word sit? or down? After several successful sits or downs? Recently I stopped saying anything to my dogs when I want them to sit by the door before going out. I just stand and wait for it to happen. It works. so much relearning to do!!!!!!
Just wait them out! I practice with my dog on leash, taking a step, waiting for a sit, reinforcing the sit and then releasing her, moving, stopping and just waiting for another sit and repeating. The sit has been reinforced enough now that it has value for her and she offers sits pretty predictably so I’ve started saying “sit” right before I know she’s going to anyway. It’s been so much more reliable than the lure!
Item #7 under the section entitled “12 Steps to Making a Change” states: “You must identify the differences between placement of the reward and food luring. Carefully place your rewards is a way to exponentially improve your training, luring has the potential of hindering learning.”
Could you elaborate on what is meant by reward placement? Thanks.
Sharing this with close buddies. My pet hate as you never see any training progress in ‘lured’ dogs
I know exactly what you mean, I understand the principle…it’s the ‘doing it’ I find hard. After years of training my various dogs to whatever the ‘latest and best’ was, I am in a ‘repetition rut’. The training classes I attend are good, the Trainers are up to date as any, but they are not yet on your wavelength. I have well behaved, well trained dogs, but I am aware that they could be outstanding. Up till now I was reasonably satisfied with this and have accepted our ‘limitations’ as both of my present dogs are way past ‘early learning’, but then along came Darcy, a 10 week old Hungarian Pumi Puppy, an almost blank page and I would like to do my Best for him. I desperately need help.
Thank you
Britta Edwards
Hi Britta, a puppy is so much fun! ItsYerChoice is a great game.
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/06/why-choice-is-the-critical-key-to-a-great-dog/
Puppy Retrieve is another fun game.
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/11/puppy-retrieve/
There’s lot of information here on Susan’s blog for puppies.
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/?s=puppies
I understand shaping but i get hung up on how does my dog know which behavior to give me? For instance, backing up…..if i just stand there waiting for her to step backwards, she may very well sit or down. Do i just continue to wait until she takes that one step backwards. I can have treats in my hand, as if playing itsyerchoice, and she will more likely offer a step backward because she often did that in learning IYC, but is that kind of more of a luring exercise? I don’t move my hand towards her to make her backup so perhaps this is ok and is more shaping than luring?
Thanks for the free summits, the vlogs, etc. All very much appreciated!
Hi Sheri, Susan’s post on the keys to shaping is a good help to plan a session.
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/12/6-keys-to-shaping-behaviour/
Luring was definitely the first method I used to ever train a dog, and I still feel I rely on it too much. I love it when you can see those gears turning, when your dog is using their brain – and how their face lights up when they figure it out. We learn so much from your blog!
This is a great post. I too have been challenged with luring/shaping. My BC has a “mother hen” issue that we have been working through. When one of the dogs in class starts acting up, she proceeds to bark at them. Luring has been my way refocusing her to me and stop the behaviour. For most other tasks, shaping is the way to go!
Love how thoroughly you covered the topic …pros and cons…of luring vs. shaping. No wasted words, uncomplicated language, and thoughtful presentation make this SO accessible to dog owners/trainers at every level of learning. BONUS… the links to related blog posts!
Been there with the luring,it took a while to realise my dog had discovered that there were no food rewards in the obedience ring, his performance went downhill at a good rate of knots.someone said reward for trying,don’t bribe to do,and things eventually got better,I have seen a bad side of shaping,where the owner just left the poor dog trying,trying,trying to get a reward,the dog ended up a stressed out pacing always trying for something mess,it was really sad.the owner was a good trainer usually,so I have no idea why they went down the route of letting the dog struggle.but,we live and learn don’t we?
Thank you for sharing your expertise. I am a novice at training , so would you please define ‘shaping’? I think I understand ‘luring’, as we use that in class, but I seem not to understand ‘shaping’. I’ve watched people supposedly shaping, but only see my dog throw behaviours at me, & then get frustrated. He is a young, primitive breed. I don’t want him to be frustrated enough to turn off, which easily happens with this breed. I don’t want to become frustrated either, as I know it affects him. Thanks for your support.
Hi Helen, Susan’s ItsYerChoice game is a great one to start with, as it’s split right down for you. Here’s where you can learn about the game and see how to play:
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/06/why-choice-is-the-critical-key-to-a-great-dog/
How would one go about shaping for the weaves. Luring isn’t working. He loves every other aspect of agility and I’m at a loss.
Hi Bobbie, Susan’s 2×2 Weave Pole Training is all shaping:
https://dogsthat.com/product/2×2-weave-pole-training/
I chose to do a lot of luring and targeting to teach behaviors to my first saluki, Puzzle (U.D., still the only ADCH of his breed, who became my Service Dog, in addition to 60+ other titles). He was a thinker, and rather finicky. To quote Bob Bailey, “Get the behavior.” I was able to fade the lure very quickly, and Puzzle would continue to offer the behavior. Originally, he was not very creative at trying new behaviors. But after several years of learning a large repertoire of tasks (mostly started by luring), I happened to test him with the 101 Things To Do with a Box game, and he blew me away with the best performance (most creative behaviors offered) I’ve ever seen — learning behaviors initially through luring helped teach him to think creatively!
In my experience, it is not uncommon for pure shaping to include some extraneous superstitious elements, even when the pieces are kept small. Luring/targeting tends to produce cleaner results more reliably. But it is important to transition quickly to letting the dog take responsibility for the behavior (being “in the game” actively offering, rather than just passively following). And dogs who are too obsessed with the food/toy to think, may need targeting or other approaches instead (along with exercises to teach them how to focus and think around distractions).
Luring is not inherently evil. It is a tool, which can be used properly or not…
So well put, Susan Waltman. I was thinking much the same thing, but you expressed it perfectly, with a great example.
In training service dogs and their families, my goal is to find the right R+ approach for each individual dog and handler rather than to generalize one approach superior to another in all cases. I use luring, shaping, capturing and Do As I Do, deciding as I go which method will work for which individual behavior, dog, handler, and moment.
Well said Susan. I’d agree as well that shaping is another tool like all of the others (luring, prompting etc). Not sure that any tool used correctly and by an experienced trainer yields better results than the others overall. Always so many angles to approach various techniques with pros and cons yet a majority of the cons can be avoided if the training is progressed in its criteria and expectation for behaviour.
I’ve seen many shaped dogs offer behaviours constantly with minimal time between them, almost in a frantic type manner to “get the reward”. Not always beneficial when your looking for something specific and the dogs are high and become impatient.
Similarly I’ve seen many brainless dogs lured with zero idea what they are doing with their bodies or thought process.
Though on course in agility, the best dogs are attentive …hear, watch and sense cues and react (aka prompts). Too much thinking can be limiting and create errors and often create misunderstanding( we don’t want our dogs to think, we want them to listen/ read cues and react) … just food for thought…
IMHO, like everything in life, aim for balance and moderation and stick to your goals and criteria 😁
Thank you for this blog, so great ! In my club, I learned luring for everything at first… and now from one year ago, I learned to shape and my dogs are completely different now ! There are thinking ! Thank you, because, it’s with your blog and a french blog, I’ve learned to shape !
I think both shaping and luring have their place in your relationship with your dog. I think it’s a shame the article seems to present it so negatively.
I am luring I think I try to move too fast
I have a big problem with using food in training: my girl is a drooler. She smells food, and ropes of drool appear almost instantly. Slippery stuff, that drool!
Thank you for this great blog post!!