Teaching your dog to “Bait”
The photo shows an example of a Newfoundland “baiting” . This exercise can be practiced each and every time you give your dog a treat and it will be come second nature for your dog to focus on your hand. “Baiting” is allowed in the conformation ring and is an invaluable tool for the exhibitor, since you can maintain your dog’s focus during the process of the examination and when you want your dog to present a great “expression” to the Judge.
When you are clicker training, you have actually begun the process of training the dog to "bait". since you have food in your hand, it becomes automatic that he will begin to focus on your hand. One of the first things to teach the puppy is not to leap forward and grab at the treat. This part is exceedingly simple. Do this right away! Teach him that he can NOT get a "cookie" when your fist is closed. First, give him a treat. Then, after one or two of these "freebies", simply close your fist and knock him firmly on the nose and say "WAIT". The minute that he has stopped nuzzling at your closed fist, and he WILL nuzzle at first, then immediately open your hand and offer him the treat from your open palm, so that he will eat it out of your palm, not grab it out of your fingers. continue this until he will simply watch your closed fist when you say "WAIT!" From that point then it is comparatively easy to teach him to remain in one position while he is watching your closed fist. Just time this carefully so that your puppy will "wait" for perhaps three to five seconds and then gradually lengthen this time. combining the two techniques, teaching your puppy to focus on your hand and to remain in the position you place him in, go hand in hand and need to be trained together at the same time.
Baiting is the process of teaching your dog to watch your hand and allowing the dog to focus on that during the show. It is NOT “feeding” your dog during the show. A good handler will only occasionally allow the dog to actually snarf down the bait. A great dog will be the dog who will stare at your hand and watch your hand without ever lunging at the food...a great dog will have the patience and the certain knowledge that “If I stare long enough, and look absolutely perfect and gently wag my tail....I WILL get that piece of food!”
This dog has been trained from puppyhood to stand back and wait patiently when a treat is offered. She knows that ONLY when the hand is open and the food is offered on the palm of the hand will she be allowed to eat a treat. Not only is it great to have a Show dog that will do this but if you teach any “mutt” this behavior, you are also training the dog that just because a person has a cookie in their hand does NOT give them the automatic right to lunge at the cookie. Food training is always a good idea...but more about that later!
Check the back of the book for some great recipes for ring bait that isn’t messy, wont stain your pockets, and won’t make your dog sick!