Useful behaviors to train: Find it!

Find it: 

Speaking of dog’s being scavengers, “find it” comes so naturally to them, you needn’t really use a clicker.  I used to doubt that training made any difference, but my volunteer work at the local SPCA has convinced me otherwise.  I have actually dropped treat after treat around an untrained dog, saying, “Find it!  Find it!  Find it!” only to have the poor dog look pathetically up at my face!   Believe me, my own dogs know better!  It is easy to teach:

1. Say “Find it!”
2. Drop treats on the ground
3. Let nature take its course.

Why train this behavior at all? 

1. It is the basis for other “find it” exercises that you could teach the dog later.  You can teach the dog to find a lost or hidden ball, your remote control, your car keys, even a missing family member.  (Karen Pryor and Jean Donaldson’s books can tell you how to train your dog to do these things.  These are listed under “Further Resources” at the end of the book).
2. It can be a wonderful and useful distraction.  Put your dog to work finding treats while you talk to your neighbor (an especially helpful trick if Fido’s shy), have him find treats in the grass as you walk out the back gate to prevent his dashing out, etc.
3. It’s fun and easy.

A word of warning about “find it:” dogs do whatever is easiest for them.  If you drop a treat and the dog doesn’t seem to be able to locate it, be very reluctant to point it out with a finger or toe.  Dogs have such a fantastic sense of smell, they generally can find that treat if they have faith in you that it’s there and put in a little effort.  But they will also learn very quickly that you are willing to cut their work in half and point the treat out should they simply act helpless enough.  Sometimes if my dog can’t find a treat, I will drop one or two more, and that will improve the dog’s motivation to find them all.