Gentle
Basic Manners · 16 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to take treats gently, both on the verbal cue 'Gentle' and automatically.
**Management:** If you need to reinforce Your Dog with treats without practicing gentle, toss a treat on the ground or use a flat open palm. **Do not toss the treat at Your Dog's mouth** for them to catch, as this can make shark-mouth problems worse!
Training steps
Be gentle with a gloved fist
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Wear a thick glove, then hold a treat in your closed fist and present it to Your Dog. As soon as they are gentle, open your hand and feed them the treat from your palm, or toss it to the side if Your Dog is still rough taking treats from an open hand.
Success: Your Dog licks your glove.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Be gentle with lower-value treats
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Use the lowest-value food reinforcer you can find that Your Dog will still eat, such as lettuce, celery, carrots, or a piece of kibble offered right after dinner.
Success: Your Dog licks your fist.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Be gentle with a fist
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold a treat in your closed fist and present it to Your Dog. If they are gentle, open your hand and feed them the treat from your palm, or toss it to the side if Your Dog is still rough taking treats from an open hand.
Success: Your Dog licks your fist.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Gentle with a loose fist
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold a treat in your closed fist, then open your fingers a crack before presenting it to Your Dog. If they are gentle, open your hand and feed them the treat from your palm, or toss it to the side if Your Dog is still rough taking treats from an open hand.
Success: Your Dog licks your fist.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Open hand on the floor
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With a treat in the palm of your flat hand, quickly move it to the floor so it is flat like a plate.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Open hand directly below chin
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With a treat in the palm of your flat hand, quickly move it directly below Your Dog's chin, as if you were feeding a horse.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Open hand
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Offer Your Dog a treat in the palm of your hand, keeping your hand flat like a plate to make it easier for Your Dog to take the treat gently.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Say the verbal cue 'Gentle' and then offer Your Dog a treat in the palm of your hand.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Offer a pinched treat through your other hand
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Use your other hand to partially block the treat, then offer a pinched treat through your fingers so that Your Dog has to use their front teeth to get the treat instead of putting their whole mouth on your fingers.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pinch a treat between your fingers while your dog is lying down
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Cue Your Dog to lie down, then slowly move a pinched treat toward their mouth from the front so they have to stretch their neck to reach it. This position makes it harder for Your Dog to put their whole mouth around your fingers.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pinch a treat between your fingers
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Say the verbal cue 'Gentle' and then offer Your Dog a treat pinched tightly between your fingers. If Your Dog is gentle, give them the treat. If Your Dog takes it roughly, say 'Ouch! That hurts!' and quickly pull the treat away before trying again.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pinch a treat between your fingers for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Say the verbal cue 'Gentle' and then offer Your Dog a treat pinched tightly between your fingers for 2 seconds. If Your Dog is gentle while they wait, give them the treat. If Your Dog tries to take it roughly, say 'Ouch! That hurts!' and quickly pull the treat away before trying again.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pinch a treat between your fingers for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Say the verbal cue 'Gentle' and then offer Your Dog a treat pinched tightly between your fingers for 3 seconds. If Your Dog is gentle while they wait, give them the treat. If Your Dog tries to take it roughly, say 'Ouch! That hurts!' and quickly pull the treat away before trying again.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice at random times
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
At random times during the day, say the verbal cue 'Gentle' and then offer Your Dog a treat pinched tightly between your fingers. If Your Dog is gentle, give them the treat. If Your Dog tries to take it roughly, say 'Ouch! That hurts!' and put the treat away. When Your Dog realizes they will not get to try again right away, they will be more motivated next time.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice automatically taking treats gently
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Without saying the verbal cue, offer Your Dog a treat pinched tightly between your fingers. If Your Dog is gentle, give them the treat. If Your Dog tries to take it roughly, say 'Ouch! That hurts!' and quickly pull the treat away before trying again.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice automatic gentle at random times
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
At random times during the day, offer Your Dog a treat pinched tightly between your fingers. If Your Dog is gentle, give them the treat. If Your Dog tries to take it roughly, say 'Ouch! That hurts!' and put the treat away. When Your Dog realizes they do not get to try again immediately, they will be more motivated next time.
Success: Your Dog takes the treat gently.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Gentle.
Now it's time to proof Your Dog's new skill. You can restart the plan using proof steps, or play games with the goals you just earned. Practice both in different locations and around distractions.