NH with no treats?

[Tangle]

Having been to see the farrier, Fifi has been prescribed six more weeks off work as her front feet were really sore :(. Actually it was really interesting watching him work and he was very good at explaining what he was doing and why. When she arrived she was landing toe-first, which was probably helping to cause pain around the deep digital flexor tendon (might have got that wrong :o) in her heel by stretching it - which made her less inclined to land heel first, which caused more stretch.....

She's now got natural balance shoes with the heels raised, all packed out with anti-inflamatories. Once they were on she was landing square - the farrier was happy with it as a first shot, but recommended she stay calm and, preferably in walk, to give them a chance to settle.

Now the problem is that she's getting a little bit full of herself. She's only five and hasn't been handled much for the last year and whilst you can see the manners are there she's trying to forget them :(:rolleyes:. We'd really like to do something with her from the ground while she's incarcerated, but she's extremely mouthy. Usually it's just lips, but we don't want to encourage her to either look harder for treats (she allready has a good hunt around :o) or to start biting if they're not offered.

I'd like to do clicker training and/or Kelly Marks (given I've got the book ;), but will she work out she's got it right if she doesn't get a treat?

thoughts, comments, opinions......

[Yann]

Apart from CT (not 'NH'?) none of the other flavours make use of treats at all, the reward is generally a release of pressure, a lovely rub between the eyes, or a dose of the friendly game.

That doesn't mean you can't use them if you wish, but to be honest treats can be used to reward and shape any sort of behaviour, NH or otherwise if it's appropriate.

You don't actually need a treat to do CT, you just need a motivator - if that's a scratch in a favourite spot or whatever, and it works then fine, but for most it's obviously a food reward that hits the button.

[Tangle]

Feeling extremely blonde - just re-read the chapter on treating or not.....

I think the friendly game is going to be a bit of a challenge. She's not too good at standing still and very twitchy. Softly, softly, catchey monkey, methinks.