Field Guide · Glossary
Luring
Learning scienceGuiding a dog into a position by moving food or a toy that they follow with their nose.
How it works
It is the fastest way to produce a physical position, because the dog does not have to work out what is wanted. The cost is that the food is doing the thinking, and a dog who has only ever been lured has learned to follow a hand rather than to perform a behavior. Fading the lure early is what turns it into training: the hand movement stays and the food leaves it, then the hand movement shrinks, then it becomes a signal.
What it looks like
A treat held at a dog's nose and moved back over their head produces a sit within seconds. By the fourth repetition the hand makes the same movement empty, the dog sits, and the food comes from the other hand afterwards.
Commonly confused with
- Shaping
- Luring moves the dog into position with something they follow. Shaping waits for the dog to offer parts of the behavior themselves and pays each step. Luring is faster; shaping produces a dog who is actively problem-solving.
Related terms
Gear that helps
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High-value freeze-dried training treats
The paycheck. For reactive work the reward has to beat the trigger, so we keep these tiny, soft, and genuinely exciting, not everyday biscuits.