Foster Floyd and Therapy

[anya]

I plan to take my foster Floyd to Therapy training classes with the Therapy test on May 18. My problem is getting him to sit or lay down. He was a show dog so not sure if that is why he won't sit on command. Anyway, any tips for getting this behemoth to sit his butt down and lay down. I used the "sit" command then proceeded to push his butt down (not an easy task) when he didn't respond to the command right away. Got him on the sit then used the "lay down" command using my hands. That didn't work. So I tried moving his HUGE paws out front and in doing so, his butt came back up. I've put a lot of dogs on sits and downs but never had this much of a challenge.:tequila:

 

[Bojie]

USE FOOD. A show dog is used to moving for bait, so he's trained to work for food/treats already. To get him to sit, hold the treat up and over his head and move it back towards his rear, it's a natural progression if his head goes up like that to put his butt down. Laying down, treats to the ground, he doesn't get the treat until his entire body is on the ground.

 

[Angela]

For the down, have him sit, as Meg said. Then take your treat and slowly lower it between his front legs, straight down, NOT in front of his legs.

 

[anya]

Tried it this morning. The "sit" took a little doing but, Angela, the "down", going straight down worked well.

Thank you for the tips, Meg and Angela.

 

[new_2_newf]

glad it's working! Keep at it. We can normally train dogs at our kennel club to sit within 2 weeks if it's practiced a few times every day, so keep at it. Short training bursts, 5 to 10 minutes several times a day will really help solidify it. Also, use good stuff....break our the steak or the chicken, whatever he likes. I've had a Corgi do a sit so fast and so hard, I was actually concerned she had hurt herself...it works

 

[Jager's Mom]

All great ideas above...I might add... Do not push down on the rear end...could be bad on knees and hips and back. If you feel the need to "touch" the pup, gently "cup" the under side of the rear end...almost like the pup is going to sit in /on your hand.

Also, sometimes it's difficult for the big guys to do sit/down on slippery floors. Be sure to do them on carpet or grass.

Use your obedience for everything the pup wants... I.e. food at feeding time, going outside, getting loved on etc...make it part of your every day life.

 

[pecanpiepatti]

Surprised Meg didn't recommend a jar of peanut butter for the "down" .... just sayin' ....

 

[anya]

Surprised Meg didn't recommend a jar of peanut butter for the "down" .... just sayin' ....

My newfs do have their own jar of PB...worth a try...LOL!

 

[Bojie]

Surprised Meg didn't recommend a jar of peanut butter for the "down" .... just sayin' ....

LOL! The jar of peanut butter works well for jumping off a boat...as does raw deer carcass...if you need more high value treat ideas....:!rolling:

 

[mrs big dogs]

He will do fine, I plan on going to watch on Thursday, we can practice together with our Newfie Brigade on our walks .

 

[lacey9875]

Surprised Meg didn't recommend a jar of peanut butter for the "down" .... just sayin' ....

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

 

[anya]

Update...it's not going well. I've tried the treats and I've tried the jar of peanut butter. He looks up at the treat and keeps walking backwards until he literally hits a wall. Tried the down. Same thing. Not going well. I put whatever the treat is straight down and he just leans his big 'ol head down that far. I move the treat out and he just moves his head. I'll continue to work with him, but, yikes...I never had a dog be so much trouble going into a sit or down. Now, Anya, on the other hand, is doing all the commands right as I try to do them with Floyd.

 

[new_2_newf]

see if you can get hooked up with someone that can run through a couple hours of training with you guys. once you see it once or twice, you'll be a pro.

With the sits, you want to have the treat only an inch or two from the nose, and move slowly. you can put on a leash so he can't walk backwards if that helps.

With the downs, you want to place the treat on the ground right under their chin. again, move slow. if you move it at all, move it towards the dog, not away, that will force the bum down to the ground.