Transitioning from Food Guidance to Lasting Behavior and Real-World Reinforcement
Luring is an effective way to teach new behaviors by using food or a toy to guide a dog into position. However, if not properly faded, the lure can become a crutch, with the dog responding only when the treat is visible. The goal is to move from reliance on the lure to a behavior that is reliably cued and reinforced in real-life situations.
Step-by-Step: How to Fade a Lure
1. Teach the Behavior with the Lure
- Use a visible treat or toy to guide the dog into the desired position (e.g., sit, down, spin).
- Mark (“Yes!” or click) and reward after the behavior is completed.
- Repeat until the dog performs the behavior smoothly with the lure.
2. Introduce a Verbal Cue
- Say the cue before presenting the lure.
- Then use the lure to guide the dog.
- Mark and reward as usual.
- Repeat until the dog begins responding to the verbal cue with less guidance.
3. Fade the Lure into a Hand Signal
- Replace the lure with the same hand motion—but with an empty hand.
- Keep your hand movement as similar as possible to the original lure motion.
- Reward the dog with a treat from your other hand and then transition to having the treat in a pouch or separate container after the behavior is completed.
4. Randomize the Reinforcement
- Begin reinforcing only some successful repetitions with food (e.g., 3 out of every 5) – typically the best performance of the behavior (top 50%).
- Continue using enthusiastic verbal praise or petting as secondary reinforcement in between.
- Gradually increase the difficulty (e.g., new environments, distractions) while keeping reinforcement rates high enough to maintain motivation.
5. Transition Fully to the Verbal Cue
- Use only the verbal cue, followed by a subtle hand signal if needed.
- If the dog hesitates, go back a step and reinforce with more frequency or reduce distractions.
- Avoid repeating the cue—say it once and wait.
- Incorporate Environmental Rewards to maintain the behavior
Transitioning to Environmental Rewards
Once a behavior is reliable with food reinforcement, you can begin using real-life and environmental rewards to maintain and generalize the behavior. Rewards can’t be eliminated all together because if behaviors aren’t rewarded they won’t be repeated. Transitioning to environmental rewards helps make rewards available for the dog at any random time.
What Are Environmental Rewards?
These are things your dog naturally finds rewarding in daily life, such as:
- Access to sniffing
- Greeting a person or dog
- Being let off leash
- Chasing a ball or squirrel (controlled!)
- Swimming or playing in the grass
How to Transition
- Use “Premack Principle” Thinking:
Ask for a simple behavior (e.g., “sit”) before giving access to a high-value activity (e.g., opening the door, going to greet a friend). - Pair Food with Environmental Rewards:
At first, reinforce the behavior with both a treat and access to the environment. Over time, reduce the food. - Make the Behavior a Gateway:
Teach the dog that desired outcomes (sniffing, play, movement) come after doing the cued behavior. This builds impulse control and fluency. - Keep It Contextual and Specific:
Ensure the dog understands that the behavior must still be completed—even when distractions or excitement are high.
Tips for Success
- Don’t rush: If your dog struggles, go back a step and reinforce more frequently.
- Practice in different contexts to build generalization.
- Use a mix of reinforcement types to keep your dog motivated and flexible.
- Watch body language to ensure your dog remains engaged and enthusiastic.