Hey everyone,
I adopted a terrier mix about a month ago, and he’s been showing some leash reactivity toward other dogs and joggers. I’ve started working with a certified force-free trainer and using Counter Conditioning Response (CCR) with high-value treats like chicken, turkey, and cheese, and it’s going well!
The challenge I’m facing is managing treats while walking him. I’m rewarding him for walking by my side and checking in with me using lower-value treats, but I only have two hands! I’ve got a fanny pack with a treat pouch for the dry treats and a ziplock bag for the high-value ones. I try to keep a handful of dry treats in my non-leash hand so I can reward him when he looks at me or walks nicely beside me.
The problem is, I’m also scanning for triggers to switch to the mega rewards without tipping him off too early. I usually drop the dry treats back in the pouch or my pocket to switch to the high-value ones, but it’s a bit of a juggling act.
Does anyone have tips on how to make this process easier without feeling like I need octopus arms? I want to be able to reward him effectively without giving away the secret of the mega treats too soon. Thanks for your help 