very basic training question

[AkirasMom]

we adopted akira 2 months ago. she knows her basic commands - sit, down, come. she does NONE of these things when distracted, though. i'm starting training classes with her tonight to work on these things but my question is this:

if i say SIT, and she doesn't listen, what do i say next?

i don't want to say SIT again, because then she thinks it's ok to wait for me to always say SIT twice or three times before she actually sits. i had a doberman a long time ago and his trainer told me to say NO. SIT. and then praise. so i've tried that route and it usually works. UNLESS she's really distracted....

[valdes43]

Find out what she's CRAZY about? Tug, food?? Rottie's usually have decent food drive. Make sure she hasn't eaten for less than 5 hours or so before doing any obedience. This way it really means something, not just another cookie.

You've only had her for 2 months. What type of distractions are we talking about? Maybe you are advancing the steps in her training to quickly and she's not very clear on what your asking. Your dog must have solid response to a command before you introduce distractions. Then and only then, do you start introducing distractions slowly session by session.

Training classes (i mean group ones) should only be an introduction to you and your dog on how to teach the command. At home, is where you practice what you've learned in a sterile enviornment initially and then when your dog is solid you progress to the next step which is introducing a minor distraction, and so on and so on. There is nothing wrong with taking a step or 2 back when things get totally out of hand.

Maybe her prior training was halfway done. Without solid foundation your training might collapse on you.

Do you teach math to a kid in Disney World? ;)

And Yes if you're absolutely positive she is solid in obedience but that 1 distraction just blows your dog away then YES the proper way of doing it would be: command -> no response -> conditioned neg. reinforcement "NO" -> actual correction -> desired behavior -> food, praise, whatever you use.

[AkirasMom]

thanks. i think you're right - i think we were getting WAY ahead of ourselves! just because she sits and usually comes when we call her DOES NOT make her a well-trained dog.

and she is ALL about the food! she really enjoyed the special soft treats at training class last night - in fact that's the first thing we have to work on...not biting my fingers off due to SO much yummy food excitement. ouch!

thanks again...i'm looking forward to this process. my husband and i are definitely committed to doing this RIGHT.

[valdes43]

Great, Good Luck!