TRAINING TIPS?

[Lisa and Tucker]

Hi everyone. My almost 11 week old puppy is doing really well with the "Sit, Stay" command and with his potty training. I started out using little treats to teach him to sit and stay and now sometimes he gets one and sometimes he doesn't. I have never given treats for going potty though just lots of praise. My question is what is the best way to go about teaching him to go all the way to laying down? I am just not sure how to do that or if now is even an appropiate time to teach it? Any advice would be appreciated. In fact any training advice at all would be appreciated!

[Kurt Gustafson]

Yes the time is right. We taught Thidwick this already. You get him in the sit position and move the treat into his chest and down to the floor. Usualy they collapse into the down position ot get the treat. Don't be afraid to use high value treats to elicit the desired behavior. Eventually you can string the actions together to get more bang for your treat.

[jenn D]

You can do what Kurt said and it works well for the down. If you plan on doing obedience competitions, the down needs to be taught a different way (they have to fold backwards from stand to a down). But that's only if you are picky and want to compete. :)

[Kurt Gustafson]

Can you describe this more? I was taught this way in clicker training obedience classes, but we never had any reason to compete. Thanks

[jenn D]

I'll see if I can get a quick video up :)

[Adina P]

Jenn, does it really matter how they manage to reach the down position?  What I mean is that really part of the 'rules' of obedience competition or is that just preferred? 

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Yes, and I agree with the previous posts.  Beasley is 14 wks old, and we started on "down" right around 10-11 weeks.  I did it similar to the way Kurt described, just moving the treat from in front of her face down to the floor, and she follows the treat. I also incorporate the hand motion so she learns that also.  But right now, she basically throws herself down on the floor from a sit position, as she's overly-eager to get the treat.  I seem to recall Eloise had kind of the same motion at first, but she eventually figured out how to go down gently.  And you Tucker is adorable!

[Lisa and Tucker]

I can just picture the 'throwing herself to the floor' scene LOL too funny! And the pic is soo cute!

[jenn D]

Adina, hi! At our obedience club the sit and down have to be preformed in specific ways. The down is a fold back move and the sit, the dogs backlegs come up to meet its front legs, not a rock sit on the back legs. The technical reason has something to do with keeping the dog in as close of a heel position with their head next to your leg as possible. Does this make sense how I describing it? If this is not how all obedience coetitions require it, then that's good to know. :)

[Adina P]

I think it's just preference.  The training method I use is used by trainers who compete too and it trains down from a sit (but not with treats) and I don't think it makes a difference in the ring.  Though I've never competed.  I also physically manipulate the sit and down during teaching and teach as part of heel so that helps keep it straight with heel.

[Lisa and Tucker]

Well I just got back to the office after going home for a visit with Tucker at lunchtime :) Happy to report that using Kurt's method I got Tucker to go "Down" for a treat 4 different times in the 25 minutes I was there! I was impressed by the end as he really didn't seem to get it at first, but I think he does now!

Now if I can just get him to give me his paw without trying to chew my hand off.....

[jenn D]

Kurt, here is an example. And Adina makes a good point, not all obedience clubs may require this type of down. The only reason I mentioned it is that I taught Brisby the down from a sit and I was corrected in my obedience trial classes. Now it's more of a struggle to reteach him the command a different way. It's not a big deal for most people and maybe not even all obedience clubs so may be a moot point.
Here's the fold back down: my daughter was video taping so that's why it's not centered well :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVkP2aat74

[Kurt Gustafson]

Thanks the video was helpful to see the difference!!