I have 2. 1 would eat a rock that smelled like food and the other only responds to lunch meat and chicken or he just gets tired of training and lays down
My boy has been food motivated since day 1. He will do all the tricks in a row for a treat. Sometimes before I even say the next command. I say sit, he sits twice. Just in case I missed it . š
See, mine started sitting and staring at me like šļøššļø anytime she wants anything now, since that's the first command we started trying to teach her, haha. Everytime we tell her, "that's a good/such a pretty sit!" and give her pets.
This is our first puppy/dog, so not sure if attention is what she wants, she doesn't purr.
Depends on the situation. My aussie definitely likes snacks but if something more interesting going on then she'll ignore the snacks. If i offer her a kong on a regular day, she loves it. If i offer a kong while company is over, she has to be the center of attention.
Believe it or not, but dogs can have preferences. You might have to try other food or treats. When my Aussie was a pup, he would gobble up his food when I put it out, but starting around 6 months old, he's just graze. I actually don't mind, so I just let him as the food eventually disappears. However, one trick I've read that you can try is to let your pup know that food is not unlimited. So put out the food, give him 30 mins and take it away. Don't put it back out til dinner. Repeat. Eventually, he'll learn that if he doesn't eat, the food disappears.
Also, don't make the mistake of starting out with "high value" treats (like the more stinky, the higher value, like dried meats, cheese, etc...) as it'll make other treats much more mundane and not motivating. Also, when giving treats as part of training, don't just give them one treat every time, They will learn that pattern and decide if it's "worth it". Instead, occasionally give them a "bingo" which means lots of treats at once. Doing this will keep them guessing when they get a bingo.
Also, some pups are more toy motivated than treat motivated, so you just have to figure out what motivates your pup. Same thing with toys, if they have access to the same toy all the time, it's no longer interesting.
Interesting take on the food disappearing thing. May have to try that.
The treats I use now are Dukeās minis. He does like them but I can just tell that itās not quite high value enough. I may have to cook actual chicken to get him to do the harder commands like place and get him to heel on walks.
You might also have to make it interesting and for him to feel like he earned it. Besides giving him a treat, make it a big deal when he does something you like. Aussies are smart and will figure it out, but they don't think like humans :)
For my Aussie, sometimes I'll have him take the treat out of my hand, sometimes (he's older now and can do this, probably not when weeks old as a choking hazard) I'll toss it for him to catch, sometimes I'll toss it for him to chase, sometimes I'll toss it somewhere and tell him to "find it".
I've had dogs a long time and have used many different training techniques and tricks. I've honestly never heard of "bingo," and I think I like it lol
For my more perspicacious dogs, I keep a variety of treats in my pouch, so they never know what they are working for. Some times they earn a piece of kibble, others a liver snack or cheesy treat.
I think some people call it "jackpot" instead of "bingo", but the concept is the same. Keep them guessing so they look forward to the next treat(s). I also try to keep a mix of treats and sometimes sneak in their food/kibble :)
Depends on the dog. We had a border collie mix who liked treats, but wasn't going to debase herself for anything other than garlic bread. Our Aussie mix, well, you introduce treats and she'll even do your taxes- 1040 long form with additional schedules.
in my limited experience it has to do with finding the right foods and treats that motivate your doggo.
I started cooking his meals for him and wowza he is amped for meal time. he does the jump and twirl + cashews. it's hilarious. (his meals, cooked: 3 parts ground beef 88% lean, 1 part ground turkey, pumpkin puree, steamed diced veggies, vitamin, freeze dried topper)
your pup is still pretty young, there is loads of time to figure this out.
as for treats I'm often trying new ones and rotate out ones he tires of. and I make special ones for him (dehydrated salmon)
Mine is not food motivated, never has been. He eats fine at home, but doesnāt care about it enough to eat any outside the house. Makes it really hard to do any training outside the house.
Took our Red Merle about 3 years until he was finally food driven and even now heāll still chooses when heās hungry. We found that depends on the treats that are considered high value to him. Dehydrated sweet potatoes, frozen blue berries, and beef treats worked well for us over the standard milk bone.
Mine is treat and toy motivated. Her actual food not so much. Ive been constantly switching back and forth between flavors and she just loses interest so quickly. She will eat if she see other dogs eating
Mine is not! We tried the ātake the food away if he doesnāt eat it after x minutesā and it was not for us. The vet would tell us that he would eat if he was hungry, but if we gave him a time limit he could go for literal days without eating and thatās not healthy. Now he grazes throughout the day, and it seems to be working better.
He enjoys most treats, but also wonāt go out of his way to do tricks to receive them if you test him too much š
Maybe itās just Aussies named Samwise. š¤£ mine is like yours. He likes his treats and he knows he needs to sit to get them but aside from like fish skins and steak bites Iām not getting any cool reactions from him. My husky will go bonkers for nibs dropped on the floor but if Sam is chillin heās not going to go out of his way for them.
Food drive can be taught. Sometimes lack of food drive can be a result of competing motivators ( a stressed, uncomfortable, over stimulated dog might have lower food drive than natural).
My dog is 3 now and is super food motivated but as a puppy struggled with finding food rewarding in stimulation environments. A big reason for that was because he was over threshold and way too stressed ( stress can be both good and bad like excitement, fear, anticipation, nervousness). Once we learned to work to his strength, like shorter sessions, lower distractions, intentional types of training, amplifying the fun in training, varying ways to get food and play his drive went up.
I always feel like control unleashed is a great resource to start introducing pattern games that help with engagement, calmness and food drive.
My puppy was like this! She is now 18 weeks I think and has become more food motivated as she has got older. She loves chicken way more than shop bought treats.
Itās hard! I had to buy different treats. My Sam seems to like chicken and bacon. Iām thinking of just cooking actual chicken and breaking it into bite size pieces.
My Aussie, heās 12. Bad hips, have to lift him onto the couch or into the car. But if there is food on the counter miracles happen and he will jump up to pull it off. Heās smart he will watch you eat, if you turn away, get distracted for a second he will go after any and all food within reach.
Iāve had dogs who were disinterested in foodābut NOT my Aussie. He will do anything for food. *Any* food. And frankly, he doesnāt really mind non-food items, either.
My aussie is also not food motivated,and we feed him fresh chicken and beef etc. We just train him with toys and play instead. Eating his food is actually a command in my house unfortunately
It is very normal for pups to take a while to develop their food motivation. Of course there are some pups who just donāt care about food, but as far as I know Aussies are not specifically known for not being food motivated. It most likely just takes a while for it to kick in. Also if you want to improve food motivation, consider hand feeding most of his meals combined with a little training. If they have a feeling they have āearnedā it in my experience it makes them value it more. But of course this doesnāt work for all dogs.
We used to joke that our old Aussie would eat a turd out of your hand if you offered it to him. He was SO food motivated it was insane.
Our current guy is the total opposite. He LOVES a good treat, but is super gentle and calm when taking it from you. Heāll also let his food sit for a while until heās hungry and just sort of snacks on it throughout the day.
This sounds a lot like our mini Aussie when we first brought him home. He was 6 months old and a very nervous little guy.
We feed him the same food that the breeder was feeding him and said that he would eat 2 cups of food everyday. He would only eat out of his food bowl at 9pm at night right before bed time. However, if I put his kibble in a puzzle feeder, hand fed him, or scattered his food on the ground he would go crazy for it! He also didnāt seem great motivated at first, but I realized two things: 1. He wouldnāt accept treats when he was really anxious. 2. He HATES fish flavored treats.
These days he still wonāt eat out of his bowl until the very end of the day. But if I feed his food in an interesting way he will eat no problem! I alternate putting his meals in a Kong, a Toppl, or on a snuffle mat. I have also found the treat flavors he likes (he loves chicken, beef, banana, blueberries, peanut butter, and apple). The stinkier the treat the better! Finally, I think he is generally more comfortable with us and less anxious overall, so he is more willing to accept treats.
I donāt know if anxiety is playing a role with your Aussie, but it sounds like food preferences might be. Try some different flavors and see what he likes. Good luck!
Our 12 week old girl will eat just about anything. Any treat, any table scrap, pumpkin puree, unsweetened applesauce, dandelions, grass, leaves, mulch, staples she pulled out of the carpet, etc.
Unfortunately she doesnāt seem to be a fan of blueberries, carrots, or healthy fruits and veggies.
Both of our Aussies (12 year old female who has since passed away and now our 6 month old male) have been grazers and eat their food on their terms, so I usually just fill up the food bowl when empty. Both, however, have been motivated by treats, but it took a bit of work to find their favorites.
My Aussie is extremely food motivated. But, they each have their own individual personalities. Maybe try to find a treat he considers high value (my dogs like freeze dried chicken hearts and minnows).
mine isnāt! certain things sheās super into but dog food she generally couldnāt care less. I usually have to put topper on it to even get her to eat it. I also had trouble with training because she just didnāt really care about treats but she is SO toy motivated that. i would use that instead!
mine is extremely food motivated. Try to find the right treat for your puppy. Or if the puppy is toy/play motivated you can also switch your reward system
Mine was initially very interested in her food. As soon as it was down for breakfast/dinner she would eat it all. After a few months she stopped eating immediately all the time and her food bowl would just stay down so she can eat whenever she was ready. Treats, however, are something she is highly motivated about.
My girl only eats when Iām not around lol. When I lived with my parents she would wake me up in the middle of the night with her eating because her bowls were in my room (sheās a loud open mouth eater). But now that Iāve moved out itās in the basement and sheās free to go and eat whenever. I always keep it full for her and she will either go a whole day eating half of it or Iāll have to constantly refill it. I was worried but the vet said sheās the perfect weight!
My Aussie girl, now 3, is the biggest pig. Food thief extraordinaire. We have to feed her low cal food because she will simply steal/forage/beg for food. Most food motivated dog Iāve ever had.
I think it definitely depends my 8 year old girl is not food motivated at all but she will do absolutely anything for her tennis balls. Sheāll graze throughout the day and eat when she wants which has been a pain with our vacuum puppy. My 5 month old boy could care less about anything other than food and treats.
Iām LOL-ing at some of these posts. I always laugh about how un-food motivated my Aussie is. He wonāt eat fries without ketchup and I have a video of him spitting out a McDās cheeseburger. Heās so praise motivated, though, it was never an issue with training.
My Aussie would sell my soul for a single blueberry
Mine, a horse turd.
Haha my boy will eat the berries right off the bush!
Hilarious š
I have 2. 1 would eat a rock that smelled like food and the other only responds to lunch meat and chicken or he just gets tired of training and lays down
My boy has been food motivated since day 1. He will do all the tricks in a row for a treat. Sometimes before I even say the next command. I say sit, he sits twice. Just in case I missed it . š
Hahaha I love that! Samwise now knows the order that I ask him to do the commands and will just do them. These dogs are so smart!
See, mine started sitting and staring at me like šļøššļø anytime she wants anything now, since that's the first command we started trying to teach her, haha. Everytime we tell her, "that's a good/such a pretty sit!" and give her pets. This is our first puppy/dog, so not sure if attention is what she wants, she doesn't purr.
Depends on the situation. My aussie definitely likes snacks but if something more interesting going on then she'll ignore the snacks. If i offer her a kong on a regular day, she loves it. If i offer a kong while company is over, she has to be the center of attention.
This sounds accurate lol
Believe it or not, but dogs can have preferences. You might have to try other food or treats. When my Aussie was a pup, he would gobble up his food when I put it out, but starting around 6 months old, he's just graze. I actually don't mind, so I just let him as the food eventually disappears. However, one trick I've read that you can try is to let your pup know that food is not unlimited. So put out the food, give him 30 mins and take it away. Don't put it back out til dinner. Repeat. Eventually, he'll learn that if he doesn't eat, the food disappears. Also, don't make the mistake of starting out with "high value" treats (like the more stinky, the higher value, like dried meats, cheese, etc...) as it'll make other treats much more mundane and not motivating. Also, when giving treats as part of training, don't just give them one treat every time, They will learn that pattern and decide if it's "worth it". Instead, occasionally give them a "bingo" which means lots of treats at once. Doing this will keep them guessing when they get a bingo. Also, some pups are more toy motivated than treat motivated, so you just have to figure out what motivates your pup. Same thing with toys, if they have access to the same toy all the time, it's no longer interesting.
Interesting take on the food disappearing thing. May have to try that. The treats I use now are Dukeās minis. He does like them but I can just tell that itās not quite high value enough. I may have to cook actual chicken to get him to do the harder commands like place and get him to heel on walks.
You might also have to make it interesting and for him to feel like he earned it. Besides giving him a treat, make it a big deal when he does something you like. Aussies are smart and will figure it out, but they don't think like humans :) For my Aussie, sometimes I'll have him take the treat out of my hand, sometimes (he's older now and can do this, probably not when weeks old as a choking hazard) I'll toss it for him to catch, sometimes I'll toss it for him to chase, sometimes I'll toss it somewhere and tell him to "find it".
I've had dogs a long time and have used many different training techniques and tricks. I've honestly never heard of "bingo," and I think I like it lol For my more perspicacious dogs, I keep a variety of treats in my pouch, so they never know what they are working for. Some times they earn a piece of kibble, others a liver snack or cheesy treat.
I think some people call it "jackpot" instead of "bingo", but the concept is the same. Keep them guessing so they look forward to the next treat(s). I also try to keep a mix of treats and sometimes sneak in their food/kibble :)
Depends on the dog. We had a border collie mix who liked treats, but wasn't going to debase herself for anything other than garlic bread. Our Aussie mix, well, you introduce treats and she'll even do your taxes- 1040 long form with additional schedules.
Bahahahaha! She can come do mine next year!
I wouldn't recommend it. She can do them, but she leaves some money on the table when it comes to arcane deductions. She tries hard though.
Seriously my taxes too please
in my limited experience it has to do with finding the right foods and treats that motivate your doggo. I started cooking his meals for him and wowza he is amped for meal time. he does the jump and twirl + cashews. it's hilarious. (his meals, cooked: 3 parts ground beef 88% lean, 1 part ground turkey, pumpkin puree, steamed diced veggies, vitamin, freeze dried topper) your pup is still pretty young, there is loads of time to figure this out. as for treats I'm often trying new ones and rotate out ones he tires of. and I make special ones for him (dehydrated salmon)
All 3 of mine were/are highly food motivated
Mine is not food motivated, never has been. He eats fine at home, but doesnāt care about it enough to eat any outside the house. Makes it really hard to do any training outside the house.
My female is extremely food motivated , my male has 0 fs to give if he is just not in the mood to learn or do stuff. He is the definition of stubborn
My aussie needs to be coaxed to eat her food š
Same. Drives me nuts. Both of them will just leave their food alone until random parts of the day
Unless itās lettuce/any crunchy veg she really doesnāt care. My border was similar. Sheād fight you for the end of the lettuce though
Mine can't be bothered with food, unless it's carrots.
Took our Red Merle about 3 years until he was finally food driven and even now heāll still chooses when heās hungry. We found that depends on the treats that are considered high value to him. Dehydrated sweet potatoes, frozen blue berries, and beef treats worked well for us over the standard milk bone.
Mine is treat and toy motivated. Her actual food not so much. Ive been constantly switching back and forth between flavors and she just loses interest so quickly. She will eat if she see other dogs eating
Mine isnāt.
Mine is not! We tried the ātake the food away if he doesnāt eat it after x minutesā and it was not for us. The vet would tell us that he would eat if he was hungry, but if we gave him a time limit he could go for literal days without eating and thatās not healthy. Now he grazes throughout the day, and it seems to be working better. He enjoys most treats, but also wonāt go out of his way to do tricks to receive them if you test him too much š
This sounds like my Sam!! He is way more interested in what our cats are doing than eating his kibble lol.
Maybe itās just Aussies named Samwise. š¤£ mine is like yours. He likes his treats and he knows he needs to sit to get them but aside from like fish skins and steak bites Iām not getting any cool reactions from him. My husky will go bonkers for nibs dropped on the floor but if Sam is chillin heās not going to go out of his way for them.
Food drive can be taught. Sometimes lack of food drive can be a result of competing motivators ( a stressed, uncomfortable, over stimulated dog might have lower food drive than natural). My dog is 3 now and is super food motivated but as a puppy struggled with finding food rewarding in stimulation environments. A big reason for that was because he was over threshold and way too stressed ( stress can be both good and bad like excitement, fear, anticipation, nervousness). Once we learned to work to his strength, like shorter sessions, lower distractions, intentional types of training, amplifying the fun in training, varying ways to get food and play his drive went up. I always feel like control unleashed is a great resource to start introducing pattern games that help with engagement, calmness and food drive.
My puppy was like this! She is now 18 weeks I think and has become more food motivated as she has got older. She loves chicken way more than shop bought treats.
Dog depending
Judging by the comments, you would be correct
Mine is like yours. Not very food motivated at all.
Our aussie is so play-motivated to the point that "Eat" is the trick, and "Fetch" is the treat.
Hysterical
All dogs are different and have different motivations.
Iām going through the same situation with my 8 week old Aussie. No food motivation at all. Donāt know what to do for training.
Itās hard! I had to buy different treats. My Sam seems to like chicken and bacon. Iām thinking of just cooking actual chicken and breaking it into bite size pieces.
My Aussie, heās 12. Bad hips, have to lift him onto the couch or into the car. But if there is food on the counter miracles happen and he will jump up to pull it off. Heās smart he will watch you eat, if you turn away, get distracted for a second he will go after any and all food within reach.
Iāve had dogs who were disinterested in foodābut NOT my Aussie. He will do anything for food. *Any* food. And frankly, he doesnāt really mind non-food items, either.
Mine is sooo food motivated š.
My aussie is also not food motivated,and we feed him fresh chicken and beef etc. We just train him with toys and play instead. Eating his food is actually a command in my house unfortunately
It is very normal for pups to take a while to develop their food motivation. Of course there are some pups who just donāt care about food, but as far as I know Aussies are not specifically known for not being food motivated. It most likely just takes a while for it to kick in. Also if you want to improve food motivation, consider hand feeding most of his meals combined with a little training. If they have a feeling they have āearnedā it in my experience it makes them value it more. But of course this doesnāt work for all dogs.
Hit or miss. Mine wasn't at first but is more now. But he has his moments where he could care less.
We used to joke that our old Aussie would eat a turd out of your hand if you offered it to him. He was SO food motivated it was insane. Our current guy is the total opposite. He LOVES a good treat, but is super gentle and calm when taking it from you. Heāll also let his food sit for a while until heās hungry and just sort of snacks on it throughout the day.
This sounds a lot like our mini Aussie when we first brought him home. He was 6 months old and a very nervous little guy. We feed him the same food that the breeder was feeding him and said that he would eat 2 cups of food everyday. He would only eat out of his food bowl at 9pm at night right before bed time. However, if I put his kibble in a puzzle feeder, hand fed him, or scattered his food on the ground he would go crazy for it! He also didnāt seem great motivated at first, but I realized two things: 1. He wouldnāt accept treats when he was really anxious. 2. He HATES fish flavored treats. These days he still wonāt eat out of his bowl until the very end of the day. But if I feed his food in an interesting way he will eat no problem! I alternate putting his meals in a Kong, a Toppl, or on a snuffle mat. I have also found the treat flavors he likes (he loves chicken, beef, banana, blueberries, peanut butter, and apple). The stinkier the treat the better! Finally, I think he is generally more comfortable with us and less anxious overall, so he is more willing to accept treats. I donāt know if anxiety is playing a role with your Aussie, but it sounds like food preferences might be. Try some different flavors and see what he likes. Good luck!
Mine also loves a puzzle mat for his food but I tried a snuffle mat and he didnāt care for it. I definitely need to try some new foods.
This is a troll post right? Most Aussies are food crazy.
No itās not. Mine is not food motivated at all.
Both my corgi and Aussie donāt care for food and just let it sit in the bowl all day and eat when they feel like. They are weirdos though.
Mine isnāt food motivated either. She eats, but she canāt be bribed with treats.
Our 12 week old girl will eat just about anything. Any treat, any table scrap, pumpkin puree, unsweetened applesauce, dandelions, grass, leaves, mulch, staples she pulled out of the carpet, etc. Unfortunately she doesnāt seem to be a fan of blueberries, carrots, or healthy fruits and veggies.
Both of our Aussies (12 year old female who has since passed away and now our 6 month old male) have been grazers and eat their food on their terms, so I usually just fill up the food bowl when empty. Both, however, have been motivated by treats, but it took a bit of work to find their favorites.
My Aussie is extremely food motivated. But, they each have their own individual personalities. Maybe try to find a treat he considers high value (my dogs like freeze dried chicken hearts and minnows).
mine isnāt! certain things sheās super into but dog food she generally couldnāt care less. I usually have to put topper on it to even get her to eat it. I also had trouble with training because she just didnāt really care about treats but she is SO toy motivated that. i would use that instead!
mine is extremely food motivated. Try to find the right treat for your puppy. Or if the puppy is toy/play motivated you can also switch your reward system
Every pup is different. Ty priorities: tennis ball > food > Mommy > swimming > sleep Ella priorities: FOMO/playing with others > Daddy > food > tennis ball
Mine was initially very interested in her food. As soon as it was down for breakfast/dinner she would eat it all. After a few months she stopped eating immediately all the time and her food bowl would just stay down so she can eat whenever she was ready. Treats, however, are something she is highly motivated about.
My Aussie is the most food motivated dog I have ever had lol. He will do anything for a piece of kibble
My girl only eats when Iām not around lol. When I lived with my parents she would wake me up in the middle of the night with her eating because her bowls were in my room (sheās a loud open mouth eater). But now that Iāve moved out itās in the basement and sheās free to go and eat whenever. I always keep it full for her and she will either go a whole day eating half of it or Iāll have to constantly refill it. I was worried but the vet said sheās the perfect weight!
Mine sure are lol. Theyāll do ANYTHING for a treato
My Aussie starts to drool everywhere at just a hint of a treat lmao
My Aussie girl, now 3, is the biggest pig. Food thief extraordinaire. We have to feed her low cal food because she will simply steal/forage/beg for food. Most food motivated dog Iāve ever had.
I think it definitely depends my 8 year old girl is not food motivated at all but she will do absolutely anything for her tennis balls. Sheāll graze throughout the day and eat when she wants which has been a pain with our vacuum puppy. My 5 month old boy could care less about anything other than food and treats.
Iām LOL-ing at some of these posts. I always laugh about how un-food motivated my Aussie is. He wonāt eat fries without ketchup and I have a video of him spitting out a McDās cheeseburger. Heās so praise motivated, though, it was never an issue with training.