Using hand signals

[missy kelly's mom]

I am having a problem in getting Missy to go to the sit-stay after the down comand. I can put her in the sit-say, then walk away from her, face her, then tell her down bring my arm down, I can get her to go down without saying a word, just that signal, and she drops. This is done with my right hand/arm. Now....How do I get her to sit stay? I use my left hand, an up-swing motion with verbal. She's looking at me but does not understand. Just to clarify... it's the up command after being downed. She does great with the stay command, siting or laying down, come cammand. I was told that it is good to teach your dog verbal and non-verbal commands in case the dog losses it's hearing. What am I doing wrong??????

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Missy Kelly's Mom{Pam}
Missy {CGC, Therapy Dog}

[WorkinDogz]

Practice down's to sits in the heel position frequently. Then, while Missy is on lead; step out a couple of steps (like 2) and do it from there. Only this time as you're raising your left hand; use it to lift the lead up (NOT TOWARD YOU) slightly. This should give her the added help she needs.

Just make sure you don't pull her off the sit with the lead. It's an upward motion and often the lead touches them right under the chin. Reinforce the stay.

I assume you're using hand commands at the heel position as well. She DOES know down to sit at the heel, correct???

[This message has been edited by WorkinDogz (edited September 04, 2000).]

[missy kelly's mom]

Yes she does, Missy knows heel then she sits. Let me explain myself. I set Missy up next to me on my left. Sshe is sitting, then I give her verbal/w/sign -Stay- I leave her, she stays. Recall- "Missy Come", comes to me toe to toe, then I hand signal using right hand sweeping, moving my arm too. Missy then proceeds behind me and assumes heel sitting on the left hand side. Sometimes I give this without verbal. Then I praise my dog. I hope I answered your question. I'm I doing anything wrong, If I am please tell me. Do you think using non-verbal commands are a good thing? Thank-you once again for your reply.

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Missy Kelly's Mom{Pam}
Missy {CGC, Therapy Dog}

[missy kelly's mom]

She will do down to sit when I am next to her. It's just when I leave her, she won't. I know I'm doing something wrong. Next to me fine. Away from her, she won't. I do not go too far away from her. I'm only about 15 ft away from her. Am I too far? She knows just hand signal (from a sit) for down. Verbal and non-verbal. When we where taught this in school, we did this:

I tell her "Missy Sit" "Stay" (verbal w/ hand in front of her. I then leave my dog. I would walk away about 10 to 15 ft. away. Stop / Face my dog. Then told Down Your Dog "Missy Down" she drops. Wait a few, Then told return to your dog, I then return walking around Missy ending up on her right side. Wait a few, then told to Sit your Dog. "Missy sit" She then goes from a down to a sit position. Sorry soo long.... We are then told to leave our dog: Missy Stay, I then leave her. Turn faceing my dog. Then told to call your dog, Missy Come, She then comes to the front of me toe to toe, Then tell her Heel verbal or nonverbal, either way, she walks to my right, goes behind me to my left then sits. She does all of this at home. She does long downs and long sits for me with no problem. When I take her for a walk, I work with her. I hope I answered your question.

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Missy Kelly's Mom{Pam}
Missy {CGC, Therapy Dog}

[LisaS]

it sounds to me like she doesn't really understand "sit" as a position, only as the motion of sitting down from a stand. Maybe you need to reteach (as if she knows nothing) the sit command starting from lying down rather than from standing. E.G., have her in a down and give sit command and lure her with a treat over her head up into a sit position. Go slowly, as if she were a puppy learning the first command ... this command seems very different from the dog's view.

[WorkinDogz]

Teaching hand commands is done the same time verbal is. Both are given at the same time to condition the dog. Having the dog trained to hand-only or voice-only commands is great.

The question really wasn't answered..

Does Missy KNOW the "down to sit" in the heel position. RELIABLY.

If "yes", then (guessing) you're trying to achieve too much distance right now and IF you're attempting "hand-only" commands; she's not clear on it.

Hand and voice commands with a little "handler help" getting into the position. If the "stay" is giving you trouble; then I would venture to say that the STAY is the issue more than the "sit" is.

[LisaS]

oh - i wrote my reply before you clarified that she will sit from down when you are next to her. Now it sounds like it is just a distance/circumstance problem. I'd go back to basics: start with her in a down and you step in front toe-to-toe - and give sit. very very slowly increase your distance and position relative to her when giving the sit.

[missy kelly's mom]

Yes, she seems to know only when I am next to her. She will do it a couple of times in a row. But not when I am away from her. Thank-you Workindogz and LisaS for your help on this. I'm going to take both of your help and do what you both say. Start of gradually for distance. All I can tell you is she downs beautifully when she's away from me. Momma needs training! I just think it's empressive, on Missy's part. Not Mine. Thanks again on your replies. I will let you know how we are doing.

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Missy Kelly's Mom{Pam}
Missy {CGC, Therapy Dog}

[LisaS]

for anyone training a dog...does your dog really understand "sit" ? http://www.clickersolutions.com/clic...es/sittest.htm

[This message has been edited by LisaS (edited September 07, 2000).]