Commands

[GatorDog]

I'm also really big on having a solid recall, and I agree with Lies about the down. I feel confident that I can down my dog anywhere and from a distance, and it's saved me from and Aid from a lot of trouble in the past.

[Liesje]

An example of where the wait or down was used....at my old house, one night I left the back gate open when I came home from work. Much later, after dark, I let my dogs out to potty. In the winter they normally potty, play for a bit, and then someone barks when they are cold and want to come in. All the sudden I heard this shrill bark at the FRONT door. Pan was sitting on the front step howling to be let in. I realized I'd left the gate open but Nikon was not in the yard. I did not panic because my GSDs prefer to stay with me, and often I have the gate open when I'm out there with them. We lived on a fairly busy street so instead of calling his name I looked around and say him right across the street sniffing some trash on the curb. If I'd called him that moment, he would have been hit by the next car. Instead I got his attention and told him to "wait". Once the cars passed I walked over to him and had him heel back across the street.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by Liesje

Huh? I don't teach anything to "novice owners" whatever that means. I go to obedience class or SchH club and everyone trains their own dogs. Training a down is not that hard, that's the first thing I start with at 7 weeks, but in my world down means "down until I say otherwise".

Wheelhaus does, I think s/he is looking for training tips: Hello Wisconsin!

[Msmart]

Thanks everyone for such the good advice. I prefer to do the training myself with lots of research I think that it has built tess and I's bond much stronger. I have learned a lot and had a lot of fun doing it and am proud with the way it turned out. Still a ways to go though. She knows the command and follows them but as with anything it a on going process. Thanks again for all your yours input. It has given me some great ideas.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by Msmart

I prefer to do the training myself with lots of research....

Do you mean rather than enroll in a class? Because even in a class the vast majority of your training is still going to be done by you, at home or in public places, wherever you choose. Classes are usually an hour a week for 6-8 weeks. They'll give you the opportunity to work with your dog around the distraction of other people and dogs, which is not always easy to set up by yourself, so they're a good socialization opportunity, not to mention that having the eye of a trainer to make helpful suggestions can be invaluable.

[Msmart]

I would have loved to been able to enroll in a class vastly for the socialization aspect of it however at the time money wasn't in a good place as I was saving for my wedding in a couple weeks.