What is lure training?

Lure training is a dog training method that uses something the dog wants, such as food or a toy, to guide the dog into a desired position or behaviour. The lure helps the dog understand what you want, and the reward is then given when the correct behaviour is performed.

Lure training can be useful when teaching behaviours such as sitting, lying down, turning, following a hand, changing position or moving into a particular place.

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How does lure training work?

Lure training uses the dog’s natural motivation to guide movement.

For example, to teach a dog to sit, you can hold a small food reward near the dog’s nose and slowly move it upwards and slightly backwards. As the dog follows the food, its head moves up and its body may naturally move into a sitting position.

As soon as the desired behaviour occurs, the dog receives the reward.

The basic process is:

Choose the behaviour you want.
Hold the lure where your dog can follow it.
Move the lure in a way that encourages the desired behaviour.
Wait for the correct response.
Mark or acknowledge the behaviour.
Give the reward.
Repeat.
Gradually reduce your reliance on the lure.

What can be used as a lure?

Food is commonly used because it is easy to hold, move and deliver quickly.

A toy can also be used when the dog is strongly motivated by play.

The lure should be something your dog wants but should not be so exciting that the dog becomes unable to concentrate on the movement you are trying to teach.

What behaviours can be taught with lure training?

Lure training can help teach many basic behaviours, including:

Sit
Down
Stand
Turn
Follow
Position changes
Moving onto a mat
Moving into a particular position
Beginning heelwork
Following a hand position

The technique is particularly useful when the dog does not yet understand what the desired movement looks like.

Is lure training the same as reward-based training?

Lure training can form part of reward-based training, but they are not exactly the same thing.

A lure is used to guide the dog into the behaviour. A reward is given to reinforce the behaviour after it occurs.

For example, you might use food to guide a dog into a down position. Once the dog lies down, the food is delivered as the reward.

As the dog learns, the lure can be reduced while the reward remains available after the correct response.

Should I use a lure for every repetition?

No.

A lure is most useful when the dog is learning how to perform a behaviour. Once the dog understands the movement, continuing to show food every time can create unnecessary dependence on the lure.

Gradually move from using the food as a visible guide to using a hand signal or verbal cue.

The dog should eventually perform the behaviour without needing to follow food first.

How do I fade the lure?

Fading the lure means gradually reducing the dog’s dependence on seeing the reward before performing the behaviour.

A simple progression is:

Use the food to guide the behaviour.
Repeat until the dog understands the movement.
Perform the same hand movement without holding food.
Reward from the other hand after the correct response.
Introduce a consistent verbal cue where appropriate.
Gradually reduce the physical guidance.
Continue rewarding successful responses.

The exact progression depends on the behaviour and the individual dog.

Why is fading the lure important?

If you continue using a visible treat as the only way to guide the dog, the dog may learn to follow the food rather than respond to the cue.

For example, if you always hold a treat above your dog’s head before asking for a sit, the dog may wait for the hand movement rather than responding to the word “sit”.

Fading the lure helps transfer control of the behaviour from the food movement to the cue.

Can lure training be used with puppies?

Yes. Lure training can be useful for puppies because food or a suitable toy can help them understand simple movements.

Keep sessions short and make the exercises easy enough for the puppy to succeed.

As the puppy learns, gradually reduce the lure rather than keeping food directly in front of the puppy for every repetition.

What if my dog follows the lure but does not perform the behaviour?

The movement of the lure may be too fast, too complicated or poorly positioned.

Slow down and make the movement easier for your dog to follow.

You should also check whether the dog understands the desired outcome. If necessary, break the behaviour into smaller steps and reward progress towards the final behaviour.

What if my dog grabs the food instead of following it?

If your dog repeatedly grabs at the food, the lure may be too accessible or the dog may be too focused on obtaining it.

Keep the food controlled and move it slowly. You can also reward from a separate hand once the dog performs the behaviour.

The aim is for the dog to follow the movement rather than repeatedly taking the lure before completing the exercise.

Can lure training create food dependence?

It can create unnecessary dependence if the lure is never faded.

Using food to teach a behaviour does not mean the dog must always see food before responding. Once the behaviour is understood, remove the food from the guiding hand and reward afterwards.

You can also vary rewards as training progresses, using toys, play, praise or other appropriate reinforcement.

Is lure training bribery?

Not necessarily.

Lure training uses a reward to guide a behaviour while it is being taught. Bribery is more likely to occur when the dog learns that it can ignore a cue until a reward is produced first.

The difference is largely in how the reward is used and whether the lure is gradually removed as the dog learns.

Can lure training be used for loose-lead walking?

Yes. A food lure can help introduce a dog to walking near the handler and reinforce appropriate position.

However, the dog should not need to follow food continuously throughout the entire walk.

Use the lure to teach the behaviour initially, then gradually reduce it while continuing to reward appropriate walking.

Can lure training be used for recall?

A toy or food can help establish positive associations with returning to the handler.

However, recall should not depend on the dog seeing the reward before coming back.

Practise in manageable environments, reward successful returns and gradually increase distance and distractions.

A long line can provide additional safety during appropriate outdoor recall training while the behaviour is being developed.

What equipment is needed for lure training?

Very little equipment is required.

Depending on the exercise, you may need:

Small training treats
A treat pouch
A suitable toy
A collar or harness
A lead or long line for relevant outdoor exercises
A training mat for behaviours involving a specific resting position

Equipment should support the exercise rather than become the focus of the training.

What are the common mistakes with lure training?

Common mistakes include:

Keeping the lure visible for too long
Moving the lure too quickly
Rewarding the wrong behaviour
Using food that is too difficult for the dog to ignore
Repeating the same lure without progressing
Expecting the dog to understand a verbal cue immediately
Making the exercise too difficult
Failing to fade the lure

The biggest mistake is allowing the lure to become a permanent requirement.

When should I stop using the lure?

Start reducing the lure once your dog consistently understands the movement.

You do not need to wait until the behaviour is perfect. Once the dog can perform the behaviour reliably with the lure, begin transferring the behaviour to a hand signal or verbal cue and reward afterwards.

If performance decreases significantly, simplify the exercise and provide more guidance before progressing again.

Conclusion

Lure training uses food, toys or another motivating item to guide a dog into a desired behaviour. It can be an effective way to introduce new movements and help a dog understand what you want.

The important part is to fade the lure as the dog learns. The dog should eventually respond to the cue or signal rather than needing to follow a visible reward.

Used correctly, lure training can provide a simple starting point for teaching behaviours while allowing you to develop clearer communication and more reliable responses over time.

GPK9 — The Five Golden Rules

The GPK9 Five Golden Rules provide the foundation of the GPK9 Professional Training System. They give new dog owners, new dog handlers, experienced handlers and professional dog trainers a clear structure for developing the dog and the handler together.

The GPK9 Five Golden Rules cover five essential areas of development: Home & Social, Obedience, Prey Drive, Toilet and Social Walking. Each area has its own purpose, but they are designed to work together as one complete training system.

The GPK9 approach is based on CATEGORY → STATUS → DRIVE → CONTROL and the handler’s ability to OBSERVE → INTERPRET → DECIDE → COMMUNICATE → OBSERVE RESPONSE → REASSESS. This gives the handler a consistent process for understanding what the dog is doing, why the behaviour is occurring, what level of control is appropriate and how to communicate effectively.

The purpose of the GPK9 Five Golden Rules is not simply to teach a collection of individual exercises. They are designed to develop the dog’s behaviour, motivation, communication, control and reliability while teaching the handler how to make better decisions.

Golden Rule One — Home & Social

Golden Rule One — Home & Social establishes the foundation for everyday life with the dog. It focuses on communication, boundaries, calm behaviour, household routines and appropriate behaviour around people, animals and normal activity.

The purpose of Golden Rule One — Home & Social is to help the handler understand the dog’s behaviour and recognise changes in arousal before they become larger problems. The handler learns to observe, assess and communicate rather than simply reacting after unwanted behaviour has already occurred.

Golden Rule One — Home & Social provides the foundation from which the handler can develop a calmer, more predictable and better-communicating dog.

Golden Rule Two — Obedience

Golden Rule Two — Obedience develops the dog’s ability to understand and respond to the handler’s communication.

The focus of Golden Rule Two — Obedience is not simply teaching commands. It is about developing understanding, reliability, timing, reward, release and control so the dog learns what the handler is communicating.

Through Golden Rule Two — Obedience, the handler learns to progress training appropriately, gradually increasing the dog’s freedom and responsibility as understanding and reliability improve.

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive focuses on understanding and developing the dog’s natural motivation to chase, pursue, engage and work with an appropriate toy or prey-based reward.

The purpose of Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive is not simply to increase drive. The handler must learn how to recognise the dog’s level of motivation, select an appropriate reward and use timing, communication and control to channel that motivation productively.

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive teaches the handler that motivation can become a powerful training tool when it is developed and controlled correctly.

Golden Rule Four — Toilet

Golden Rule Four — Toilet establishes reliable toilet habits through consistency, observation, timing, supervision and appropriate reinforcement.

The handler learns through Golden Rule Four — Toilet to recognise when the dog is likely to need the toilet, provide the correct opportunity and reinforce the desired behaviour.

The objective of Golden Rule Four — Toilet is to establish a predictable routine that helps the dog understand where and when toileting is appropriate while reducing opportunities for mistakes.

Golden Rule Five — Social Walking

Golden Rule Five — Social Walking develops the dog’s ability to walk calmly and appropriately in the real world while remaining connected to the handler.

The focus of Golden Rule Five — Social Walking is the relationship between the handler, the dog, the environment, distractions, distance and available control.

Through Golden Rule Five — Social Walking, the handler learns to observe body language, identify potential triggers, assess distance and recognise changes in drive or arousal before behaviour escalates.

The objective of Golden Rule Five — Social Walking is not simply to make the dog walk beside the handler. It is to develop a dog that can experience the outside world while remaining connected to the handler and capable of responding to clear communication.

How the Five Golden Rules Work Together

The GPK9 Five Golden Rules are designed to work together rather than being treated as five completely separate subjects.

Golden Rule One — Home & Social establishes the foundations for everyday behaviour and communication.

Golden Rule Two — Obedience develops understanding, responsiveness and control.

Golden Rule Three — Prey Drive develops motivation and teaches the handler how to channel natural drive appropriately.

Golden Rule Four — Toilet establishes essential household routine and reliability.

Golden Rule Five — Social Walking takes the communication and control developed through the other areas into the outside environment.

Together, the GPK9 Five Golden Rules help the handler develop a complete understanding of the dog rather than treating individual behaviours as isolated problems.

The overall objective of the GPK9 Five Golden Rules is to train the human, train the dog and build the partnership through clear observation, communication, appropriate control and progressive development.