Well... I am not lazy, per say, but there are some basic needs that I will fullfill without making my dogs "work" for them - water, food, pottying.
I do expect good manners (like sitting before I open the door or put down a bowl of food), but I don't believe in making a dog "earn" every last bit of kibble. I myself would hate to have to earn my sandwich - bite by bite - throughout the day, instead of sitting down and eating a whole meal in peace.
I do use treats and/or toys as rewards in training but I also use tons of praise... it works well for us.
I am a great believer in NILIF although I don't agree with
some of the methods suggested on some of the web sites... having the dogs pay attention to my every move 24/7 and expecting them to hop up and move out of my way if they happen to be sprawled out and sleeping in the middle of the floor, for example. I don't mind walking around them, or stepping over them...
Some things in life
should be free... a basic meal and a nap being just two of them.
A treat is just that... a
reward for doing something right.
I guess I look at dog training kind of like the same as raising kids... I would not withhold food as a punishment or dole it out as a reward. Dessert (treats), maybe... but not lunch.