Dog Health Questions: Confused about dog training with treats?

I'm going to train my dog with treats and a clicker. Some articles suggest that treats are amazing and some say that after a while they won't do the tricks if they see you don't have any treats in your hand.

How do I begin training with treats and then wing them off of it? Or should i maybe after a while instead of a treat give them a a very enthusiastic "good girl!!!" and a quick physical reward like a pat on the back or something? Should I be doing something else?

Thanks!!

Do You Make These 4 Common Mistakes in Dog Training?

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You gradually increase the interval or number of repetitions before the dog gets the treat. At first, say they heel well for 50 feet, they get the treat, then 75 feet and so on. When you teach a behavior, reward each one and, when they know it, reward after a couple or after they do several things or only when they do it perfectly. It has to be done gradually and you can use verbal praise & petting them too, of course.

If you have ever seen obedience,agility & tracking and so on competitions, almost all those dogs were trained w/ food, but you are not allowed to carry it in competition. The dogs know they will get "paid" when the job is done. PS- throw the clicker away, it is a gadget you do not need.

Dog Training with Hand Signals - Hand Signals Help With Obedience Training Your Dog

• All dogs are different,
  Treats are mostly used to encourage behavior/do a trick not to be used just for "being cute"
  Try with treats at first but whatever you do praise the dog for trying and getting the trick,Things like treats can help a dog learn a trick but also patting their head and saying and saying good Girl!
  But don't only rely on treats,
  But be nice and firm,not mean or anything but be serious.But its okay to have fun just remember to focus,
  good luck!!!


• You should start off with treats, and once he/she will do every time you command, do the occasional treat, but mostly use very enthusiastic "Good Girl/Boy!",(while petting them plenty too), once he/she starts obeying thoroughly. I hope this helps!


• It's a personal choice. I do not train with treats. I want my dog to focus on ME, not the hot dog in my hand. It's a little more work, but I am willing to do it. I will never bribe a dog to do for me what it should WANT to do for my approval. As my dogs have always been extremely well behaved, I feel I am justified in my attitude toward treats. Now I DO use them for certain things. My girl gets treats when she uses the treadmill, and when she goes in her crate at night. I just do not feel the need to use them for basic obedience.


• First of all things make sure your dog is calm during this processs and then start from there. And if you feel that your dog shoud start off with treats but after a while when you wing her off of them say "no beg" and give her a light tap on the tip of her nose. Be stern if you need to....I hope this works for you!


• I usually change it up. Sometimes she gets a treat, other times she doesn't. Many people probably don't agree with this, but it's what worked with my little girl :) She always does whatever command, regardless of whether or not I have a treat.


• If the dog knows what you want and won't do it unless you have a treat, you haven't done it right.


• Be very enthusiastic, then after a while they should just do it, you'll still have to praise her but not as enthusiasticly.


• It really depends on the dog's combination of intelligence and defiance. More intelligent (not to be confused with "obedience intelligence" which is what the "intelligent dog" ranking is based on) won't likely be lured by treats if they don't want to do what you're asking, and those who are will quickly realise when the treats are gone. When my dog was a puppy I tried to train him a bit... he'd get to the point that if I said a command, he'd sniff my hand... if he smelled a treat, he'd do it. Otherwise, he'd just snub me.
  
  The more obedient breeds (labs, retrievers, GSD, poodles, etc...) will fall for treats, and get into the routine of listening to commands even without treats, but others won't. Also, aside from breed, each dog is an individual. Your best bet is to find a way without treats, though.
  
  Lastly, if you have a breed with a defining "no tricks" personality, don't try to change that. That's what makes them unique. So with such breeds (or such dogs), respect that and only teach them essentials (especially "stop" commands for their own safety), allowing them to show their natural personality. With breeds like labs, golden retrievers, and really any working dog, they often thrive of training so teach them EVERYTHING. To be effective, take your queues from her just as she take them from you.