Treat and Retreat
The “Treat and Retreat” technique, developed by Suzanne Clothier, is a force-free method designed to help shy, fearful, or socially awkward dogs build confidence and navigate interactions with people.
This game is wonderful as a confidence-building exercise for shy or reactive dogs, but it is also just a wonderful skill to teach dogs that they have agency and choice. Although I am not certified in this technique (yet), I do use it to the best of my current ability when it comes to excited greeters. It involves tossing treats closer to and then farther away from a trigger, allowing your dog to approach someone at their own pace, or just teach them that charging up to someone isn’t the most rewarding way to greet them. This skill is especially useful for helping dogs overcome fear of new people or environments, as it creates positive associations while respecting their comfort level. (Just to note: the “Episode 3” video is a podcast over an hour long, the others are shorter tutorials)
Please Note: This is only the scratch of the surface of this technique. From Suzanne’s website:
“Because this technique has been around for a long time, there are many trainers who have felt free to appropriate the name Treat/Retreat for themselves. While they may believe they understand Treat/Retreat, they often provide inaccurate information. You will find these misguided trainers on YouTube, Facebook, and of course on their websites, even in respected publications.
To avoid the continuation of unskilled trainers mis-applying Treat/Retreat, we created an online certification program in 2020. This is an intensive certification course designed for working professionals who wish to build their skills for working with shy, fearful and socially awkward dogs.”
For more details, directly from the source of the Treat/Retreat creator, I will direct you to her website at: