Getting the perfect "Come Front"

[K-9Girl]

I am having trouble getting Kodi to do a straight come front. He comes to me with great enthusiasum, but instead of sitting right infront of me, he will sit with his rear to one side or another....

Any tips to get him to sit straight when he comes to me??

Thanks :)

Sara

[lblax]

Originally posted by K-9Girl
I am having trouble getting Kodi to do a straight come front. He comes to me with great enthusiasum, but instead of sitting right infront of me, he will sit with his rear to one side or another....

Any tips to get him to sit straight when he comes to me??

Thanks :)

Sara

how are you rewarding him????? if food or toy hold in the middle of your body just high enough he has to look up and step back saying here here here and only reward when he is in correct position

[FredAl]

If you're using treats, try giving it to him by spitting it out from your mouth when he's sitting in front of you. He will adjust straight automatically so that he has a better view of the treat coming up and can immediately catch it.

If you're using a ball or tug toy, hold it under your neck and release it on the same conditions.

[K-9Girl]

Right now I am rewarding him with a food treat. Up until just a while ago I would do just what Larry said....holding my hands center on my chest with a treat, and that would work. My most recent obedience teacher said that we should not do anything that we wouldn't do in the competition ring...and of course, holding your hands up and not in a natural position would be a penalty. Is this wrong??? Do I need to do this longer until it is more clear to Kodi or will it confuse him (as it did) when I finally take my hands down? Gee....now I am confused..... The food in the mouth is a good idea and also holding the ball with your neck.....I will have to try this too....BTW, we have just started working with this command, so it is still a new concept to Kodi.

Thank you both for your replies.....:)

Sara

[excellrott]

My trainer suggested sitting on the edge of a chair and asking the dog to come to sit between your legs. this brings the dog close to you straight, then stand and wallaa..... perfect position.
It must be down several days to get the dog used to being in this position and so close to you.

[Storm]

Once again the come should be taught at close quarters first, with the dog giving a position and once in position only is the position associated with the command and reinforced with the reward whatever it may be. I prefer to first do exercises with food where I just walk around on the field with food at my disposal, everytime the dog comes to me he gets some food, every single time, where eventually the dog should drive almost continuesly for the food. Now there is some attitude to work with, from here I will go to teaching various positions, luring the dog into position with the food in hand, saying nothing!!!! Only once the dog gives a desired position will I put a word to it so that the dog connects the two, reinforce with the food and release the dog from the position back into drive. While running the dog through various positions I will lure him into a frontal sit with hands just below chest. When he gives the perfect position put the "come" word in so that he connects the position to the command. To perfect this position I teach the dog to give eye contact which is the means to the food, this way you can hold your arms stretched out next to you and he will give facial contact for the reward. Also don't step back to bring the dog in, always let the dog initiate the movement, first i will let the dog come into position and just drive me back will driving into the hands, in position below the chest and once he does this well, will I stop and close the hands and wait till he gives eye contact, then feed and close etc. ending with a release backwards back into drive. Eventually you work the hands away to the sides always bringing them back to the point of reward exactly where you want the head position, if you are not constant in this the dog may start anticipating reward elsewhere and you will lose position. If the dog knows the presentation as a means to the reward then that is the most part of the "come" in place. Use a different word then just a casual recall comand so the the dog knows the difference. If you have started the recall by first yelling the command while the dog is a way off then the dog connects the comand with the action of coming to you and not the presentation. Then if you ask for presentation with the same command it is confusion to the dog.

[K-9Girl]

Thank you everyone for your help:)

Sara