One of dog owners’ most common frustrations is, “My dog will only do [insert behavior] for a treat.” If this sounds familiar, rest assured that it’s a fixable problem. Truth is, this usually happens because we, as humans, inadvertently make the food the cue instead of teaching a proper one. Understanding the difference between luring and cueing is the first step to addressing this issue and setting your dog up for success. Here is the difference between luring and cueing.

What Is Luring?

Luring involves using food or another reinforcer to guide your dog into a specific position or action. For example, holding a treat above your dog’s nose and moving it slightly upward to encourage them to sit or leading your dog in a circle with a treat to teach “spin.” Luring is an effective way to introduce new behaviors, especially for young or inexperienced dogs who don’t have prior experience with shaping and capturing behaviors. However, it’s not meant to be a permanent tool. The goal is to remove the lure (i.e., the treat in your hand) as quickly as possible—usually within just a few repetitions.

What Is a Cue?

A cue is a signal that tells your dog they can perform a behavior to earn reinforcement. Cues can be verbal, using words like “sit,” “down,” or “spin.” They can be gestural with hand signals or body movements, or it can be tactile or environmental, like touching your dog gently or using an object like a “place” mat. Unlike luring, cues do not involve physically guiding your dog. A properly trained cue allows your dog to understand what’s being asked of them, even without food in your hand.

Why Do Dogs Get “Stuck” on Luring?

If your dog only performs a behavior when they see food in your hand, it’s likely because the lure was never phased out. Essentially, the treat became the cue. This is common and can happen when we use food to guide the dog too long, or reward inconsistently, creating confusion, or move the reward hand prematurely, signaling to the dog that food is still part of the equation.

How to Avoid the Luring Trap

The good news is that you can transition your dog from relying on a lure to responding reliably to cues with a few adjustments. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Get food out of your hands ASAP. Once your dog understands the behavior, remove the treat from your hand. You can still reward them, but the food shouldn’t be visible during the cue. Use an empty hand and reward after the behavior for reinforcement. After phasing out the lure, mimic the same motion with an empty hand. For example, a gesture like you have a treat in your hand when asking for “sit.” Be sure to reward your dog only after they perform and complete the behavior. This way, the dog learns that the behavior earns the reward rather than expecting the reward first. Try to keep your reward hand still. Avoid moving the hand holding the treat until the cue has been given and the behavior has been performed. This prevents the hand motion from becoming part of the behavior that distracts the dog. Lastly, it may be helpful to hide your treat pouch.

Some dogs are savvy enough to associate the treat pouch with food rewards, which can distract them. Hiding the pouch can help shift their focus to the cue instead. If your dog struggles to catch on, consider rebuilding a behavior with a new cue. Re-teaching the behavior using a new cue (e.g., switching from a verbal cue to a hand signal or vice versa) can help your dog associate the behavior with the new cue. Lastly, reintroduce luring briefly only if it’s needed. In new environments or when distractions are high, you can go back to luring temporarily to help your dog succeed. However, this should be a short-term strategy.

Progressing to Reliable Cues

Dogs learn best through clear, consistent communication and gradual progression. Moving from luring to cueing ensures that your dog understands what you’re asking, no matter the context or environment. Once they reliably perform a behavior on cue, you can work on generalizing it to different places and distractions.

Why Cues Matter

A dog that has a solid understanding of a cue can reliably can perform behaviors in different settings, around distractions, and without needing a treat in sight. By transitioning from luring to cueing, you’ll create a stronger bond with your dog and set them up for lifelong success.

We’re Here to Help!

The difference between luring and cueing can take time to understand. If this all sounds overwhelming, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered at Where Sit Happens. Our “levels” training classes are designed to help you progress from using lures to teaching reliable cues of your choice. Whether you’re working on basic obedience, tricks, or advanced behaviors, we can guide you through the process and address any challenges along the way.

Remember, training takes time and patience, but the rewards are well worth it!

Ready to level up your dog’s skills? Contact Where Sit Happens today to get started!