need dog advice

[cooter]

guys i have a problem wit my 6 mont old lab and hopefully you guys can help me out.on whistle commands he is getting confused on the sit whistle he sits but he runs back to me first he will not sit away from me what can i do to correct this thanx in advamce

[Wingman]

Take him to where he was when you blew the whistle and make him sit. That's the way I did my dog with voice command...take him back to where he was when you gave the command and make him do it. Then pet him, pet him, pet him, kiss him, pet him, pet him, kiss him...

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31

[chance]

Wingman has the drill down except for all the lovey dovey stuff. Praise is OK but don't overdue, pup will get far too excited. Take the pup back to the spot where he was sitting and sit him back down. Use a short blast on the whistle and say "Sit". If you have a buddy to help you can also use two 50 foot check cords. Your buddy holds his check cord out at the end keeping the pup from coming in to you on his own. Use your imagination with this drill and you can set up several ways to enforce the sit command.

[judge jb]

i agree with wingman....love, pet, kiss and reward.....

judge jb

[Welldoggie]

Judge, that's the exact advice told my wife about getting me to sit...or, was it fetch the vacuum cleaner and get up all the dirt I tracked in. one of those...and I'll tell you, pettin works. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[goosebruce]

He hasn't understood that SIT is an action, not a place. To him, sit means come sit by your side, cauase thats where he normally is, and where you normally tell him. Makes sense to a dog, everytime he ever sat, it was by yourside... Think like a dog a lil, and look for chances for him to sit AWAY from you. SIT him, and walk away, longer until you can go around side of the house or whatever. Get him comfortable with sitting away from you, before you can expect him to understand to sit at a distance. Also, don't be afraid to throw the traffic cop sign (your hands up pushing away), to make pup understand to sit, which REALLY doesn't make sense cause dogs don't know what a traffic cop is, but they generally do sit when conforted with it. The rope gig works, especially with an older dog more set in it ways. But you shouldn't have any problem following the advice given so far. Also, never try the whistle stop in the field before you're 100% in obedience training.. you simply errode what your teaching. travis

[Wingman]

Chance! You cold-hearted trainer you! I disagree to a point. Goosebruce is right, the dog thinks sit means sit by you. But I always pet my dog alot after he does something right. They want to please you, so let 'em know you're pleased. You outta see me working the hand signals; I look like the sniper in the bell tower on "Saving Private Ryan."

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31

[goosebruce]

I don't think ya'll understood what chance was saying. He wasn't saying don't praise the dog, he was simply be careful not to overdo it. A lot of folks end up getting all lovey dovey on everything the dog does, and it isnt nesserary, and it leads to beggin the dog. A simple good boy, and rubbing the ears is fine, and its important, espeically in early yard work to keep that attitude up. Dogs learning is directly related to their tails wagging... thats not founded in veternary medicine, thats simply what Ive seen and I belive it!

But once the dog learns it has an OBLIGATION to do the work, performing the work and being allowed to perform the work uninterupted is the dogs own reward. Constantly cooing over your dog can undermind that mindset in a dog. And that mindset is very important to do advanced work. A dog wont perform to its best potential, either doing it for an ear scratch, or doing it because its afraid. A dog only performs to its best, when its convinced it can, and if he tries hard, he will suceed. Hard to put into words, but spend much time around dogs with a mindset like that about work, and you'll see what I mean. Like everything else, a balance is ness for best results. travis