when i teach a command i teach the dog
a command is a one word order. i say "down" and i
make the dog down. i don't give him time to "ok dad,
let me get into position, ok i'm doing it". i think if you
hesitate after the command is given your teaching
your dog he or she can react on their time. when you're
teaching your dog to come. "come" doesn't mean
"come Spot, come on boy, come, i said come".
while you're saying "come" start bringing the dog
to you. Anthony8858 are you doing all of this training
on your own? how about finding a trainer?

 

I add excitement and little room for error. When they are first learning it, I assist (lure, collar guide down). When I know they have the basics, I start to ask for it fast. For example, I toss a treat across the room for them to get, they run over to get it, I call them back and then lure/ask for the down, fast. Once they are doing that, then I up the criteria. If they don't go fast, they get a negative marker and we shift position and try again. If they don't get it in two shifts, then I back up and "assist" a few more times and try again. I do the same for all positions (sit, stand etc).

Here is a video of me working on that with my new Corgi, Poppy. She knows nothing so we are teaching and teaching speed all at the same time.

At the beginning of this one, I am working on positions:

Here I am using a toy:

 

I add excitement and little room for error. When they are first learning it, I assist (lure, collar guide down). When I know they have the basics, I start to ask for it fast. For example, I toss a treat across the room for them to get, they run over to get it, I call them back and then lure/ask for the down, fast. Once they are doing that, then I up the criteria. If they don't go fast, they get a negative marker and we shift position and try again. If they don't get it in two shifts, then I back up and "assist" a few more times and try again. I do the same for all positions (sit, stand etc).

Here is a video of me working on that with my new Corgi, Poppy. She knows nothing so we are teaching and teaching speed all at the same time.

Poppy Training 2-10-12 - YouTube

At the beginning of this one, I am working on positions:
Kastle Obedience 8-15-11 - YouTube

Here I am using a toy:
Kastle Obedience 9-13-11 - YouTube

Kastle Obedience 10 7 11 - YouTube

Great videos! Thanks for sharing!

Not only are your dogs just adorable, but I love your way of working with them!

(Btw, the younger Kastle videos.... the cutest puppy I have ever seen!! Lots of "awww" moments here!)

 

Or do I need to get her excitement level up.... somehow.

She does everything in slow motion. She's a lazy mush, unless she's outside running free.

I think upping the excitement level would probably help you. And those videos, awesome, check them all out and see what you can use.

I personally have NO problem being all sorts of silly and strange to get my dog to pay attention to me and not other stuff, whether there are other people around or not. I find it helps if I'm the most interesting thing EVER.

Do you train with a clicker? If so, then start marking only for faster downs. If she only gets the good rewards for doing a fast down, she's going to speed up.

 

do you guys think you can help me out? my 5 month old puppy was all black when i got him but now he is getting a tannish/red color on his neck, a few parts down his side and behind his back legs..

 

http://http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/members/andyroo81890-albums2398-bentley-picture13552-bentley-his-weird-fur.jpg

 

http://www.germanshepherds.com/foru.../members/andyroo81890-albums2398-bentley-picture13552-bentley-his-weird-fur.jpg

 

Is this something that comes with age and time?

In our case, yes. My pup was always pretty casual about the "platz"; she'd do it if she knew a treat was immediately coming, but otherwise, she would just stare at me as if to say "What ever do you mean? Talk to me when you have a treat handy." It was a bit frustrating, but it took her a while to grow into her drives. Once her ball drive developed a bit more, around 10 months or so, I was able to use the ball as a reward for "platz", and once she understood what I wanted from her, her down become instantaneous. In fact, she often anticipates it and snaps to the ground when she wants me to throw her ball.

She does everything in slow motion. She's a lazy mush, unless she's outside running free.

Enjoy that while it lasts.

 

In our case, yes. My pup was always pretty casual about the "platz"; she'd do it if she knew a treat was immediately coming, but otherwise, she would just stare at me as if to say "What ever do you mean? Talk to me when you have a treat handy." It was a bit frustrating, but it took her a while to grow into her drives. Once her ball drive developed a bit more, around 10 months or so, I was able to use the ball as a reward for "platz", and once she understood what I wanted from her, her down become instantaneous. In fact, she often anticipates it and snaps to the ground when she wants me to throw her ball.



Enjoy that while it lasts.

Why did I take that as a warning ?

 

Kira is so pretty....love her face. I had this issue with Jemma and her roll over. I could tell she didn't like to do it, and would sometimes only go half way, then get back up. I started using a clicker and a higher value treat...Jemma's weakness is string cheese...I cut it up in tiny little cubes. Once I started that...she goes really fast into her commands, even the roll over which is harder for her to do and not her favorite.

 

I think you need to get the excitement level up. I used marker training with a clicker with Beau to learn the behavior and now he gets a ball for reward that really ramped him up even more.

 

What we did was first doing it on a platform. Then we moved off the platform and actually have to toss a treat away from the dog. The dog goes after the treat, you run after the dog until you get to the rear and then give the command. The dog might be startled one or two times but it turns into a fun game for the dog and you. Every time the dog downed you toss the treat into the different direction and you run after the dog again. That's how they get really fast with their sits and downs.