Training...

[kilasmamix3]

Okay, so my rott is nearly 4 months old. So far she knows, sit, stay, paw, other paw, come, behave, and no. I'm just wondering, how do you teach a dog how to lay down and how to stand? I taught my previous pit bull x boxer's how to do all these commands but i made a mistake by teaching them hand commands so they would sit unless i put my hand above there head, would'nt go down unless i put my hand on the floor, would give paw unless i put my hand infront of there paw, and wouldn't stay unless i put a flat hand in front of there nose. They just wouldn't stand on command either. They were my moms dogs and i could only go over her house so much to train them...

My main question is, how do you train them with verbal commands? I'm not sure how to do that.. So your advice would be much appriciated! Especially with the down and stand command. Thank you!!!

Dezaree

[Zumie05]

I love using hand signals with my dogs and there is a way you can get them to respond both to hand signal only or verbal only commands.

When teaching dogs behaviors they usually pick up on hand signals faster, because one of their main forms of communication is through body language. It is easier for them to understand what our motions mean vs our words. But it isn't impossible to teach dogs verbal commands obviously, and they do pick up on them pretty quick.

So what I do is first work on luring the dog into the position you want to teach and then marking it with a clicker or a "good!" so they know they're in the right position. Next you can somehow change or manipulate the shape of the hand you were using the lure the dog into the position you want to change it into your hand signal. Then once the dog is responding to the hand signal, start adding in the verbal. So you would say "stand' then wait about 5 seconds, and follow through with the hand signal he just learned. It won't take long for the dog to pick up on the word if you follow these steps. At first though only use the hand signal as a backup to the verbal.

To teach stand, start with your dog in a sit or a down (I think a sit for starters is easier). Take a treat and put it at his nose, let him kinda lick or nibble at it. Slowly start to pull it away from his face and encourage him to follow it. Once the dog gets up, "GOOD!" and give him the treat. Once your dog is really starting to stand pretty quickly to just luring him, create a hand signal. Mine is my hand down by my hip, palm facing up, and then I wave my fingers towards myself (if you can imagine that). Then when the dog understands the hand signal, say "stand", wait a few seconds, if he doesn't stand then back up the verbal with the newly learned hand signal.

For down, start with the dog in a sit and use a treat from the dog's nose and slowly down to the ground in between his paws to try to lure him to the ground. If he is bending and not really going down, or simply he keeps standing up, what works well is to sit and the ground and try to get him to crawl under one of your legs. My hand signal for down is my pointer finger pointing towards the ground. Sometimes I snap too before I point to the ground. Then add in the word. "down", wait a while, if he doesn't do it, back it up with hand signal. One day you will be practicing this and you will have told him "down" and right when you're about to back up with the hand signal, he will go down by himself! Praise this a lot when it finally happens, for both the down and the stand

Eventually you will have a dog who should be able to respond to both verbal and/or hand signal cues.

Hope this helps!

[kilasmamix3]

I've done that before with my mothers dogs, but as soon as i used hand signals they'd do what told, but when you just say sit, they wouldn't budge. I'll try it again though. thank you.

Dezaree

[brunie's mom]

I would suggest you enroll your puppies in obedience classes. They will teach you how to teach the puppies.

Use food to lure her into a down from a sit. Puppy is sitting...hold a treat in front of her nose and lure it to the ground in front of her...while saying "down". Praise and treat. Use something really good like a tiny slice of hot dog, or string cheese or cooked chicken or roast beef.

Classes are a must for your dogs...you have two puppies!

Gina

[kilasmamix3]

Brunie's mom; they are already enrolled :-) they start next week. Thank you for your advice! I appriciate it.

Dezaree

[CleasMommy]

Thanks Zumie for the tips! We're starting Dozer in his puppy obedience classes so I'm hoping to be able to teach him these things soon!

[Zumie05]

Originally Posted by kilasmamix3

I've done that before with my mothers dogs, but as soon as i used hand signals they'd do what told, but when you just say sit, they wouldn't budge. I'll try it again though. thank you.

Dezaree

If this is the case and you positively know that the dog does know the verbal command, I would just stop using hand signals all together for a bit. Just work on asking verbal commands, and if the dog does not respond lure them into the position. Forget about the hand signals until they are better at verbal. I do think it is beneficial for dogs to respond well to both verbal and hand signals. .

I find myself switching back and forth between which I use. Just depends on how I feel and what is going on around. Hand signals are great if the environment you're in is loud and you don't feel like raising your voice, or when you want the dog to be looking directly at you. They have to be able to see the hand signals you're doing. Even though hand signals are great, I do think it just as important to have a dog that will obey something that you TOLD them to do instead of having to gesture all the time.

[kilasmamix3]

I wouldn't say the know hand signals, but, (these arn't even my dogs anymore) they won't sit/stay/paw unless they actually see a treat or see a treat lurred to the ground. They needed obedience classes, but my mother did not want them to be in class... And since, i was already moved out of the house, i didn't have enough time to train with them..

Dezaree

[lengel]

We reward whenever Zooey is doing something we approve of without being asked. Sometimes we lure. Later, we apply a command. And always, always, we look at the target if there is one when we want her to be in a particular place.

[Kayla13]

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting on here and i would like to start by saying that this is a great web site with excellent info on rottweilers.

Around 8 weeks from now i am due to get my first rotty pup..... im so excited! I was wondering if anyone could give me any info that i need to know about managing my pup for the first few months?

Any info would be great.

Alex