Waiting for His Food? Teaching "Down"

[Karen J. Reece]

I trained Mac (now 10 months) with only voice and hand commands never by using a lease. He will sit and stay on hand or voice command, lay completely down and then lay on his side and play dead until I tell him UP. I never make him wait for his food but don't really see the harm in it.

[Paxx]

I am moving this to Training.

[maryh]

Lurch is about eight months now........doing well and, overall, a pleasure, in terms of his obedience training, growth, etc. Here is my question: When I put his food dish down in front of him, I routinely make him sit/stay and "wait" briefly (maybe to the count of five)....then I say "ok" and he begins eating. My other dog pals and a local trainer have told me that I should not be doing this........that I should simply place the bowl in front of him and let him eat. (without telling me why they think my sit/stay/wait is wrong.....) I cannot see why/how this brief opportunity for training would be problematic for Lurch. Anyone have any thoughts about this?
Second, I have been using treats to teach Lurch "down", by putting him on "sit" in front of me, focusing his attention with a treat, and immediately taking my hand, with the treat, to the ground in front of me. He follows the treat down, and, when he is fully down, he gets the treat and praise. Am I creating a problem with this approach? should I be using the old "tried and true", take him to the ground with the leash approach? (assuming he does not respond, when I am certain that he "knows" what behavior I expect?)
All opinions welcome and much appreciated.

[Judy Chrusch]

Well I guess I'm doing the wrong thing too then. I make Czar wait a moment for his food, he's 5 months old and now just waits on his own, I don't even have to say anything. He also has been taught with hand signals. What was the reason that person gave you for NOT doing this? I would continue to do what you're doing, it sounds like you're doing a great job.

Judy

[RottnKid1]

I do this with some of my dogs, too. As a matter of fact, there was a discussion about this not long ago. Does anyone remember this? I'll see if I can find it.

[maryh]

thanks for the responses, folks. I do appreciate it. I asked the local trainer why he thought having the dog "wait" for food might not be a good idea. Here was his comment,"it makes the dog nervous", and "could lead to food aggression".
I am certainly no expert and do not claim to be one...........but, personally, I do not think making Lurch sit while I prepare his bowl and making him "wait" a moment when it is placed in front of him...........is causing him any anxiety at all. From the beginning, I have purposely sat close to him while he eats, talked to him quietly, etc. So far, he shows zero signs of aggression about his food..........because he gets plenty to eat and because there are no other animals around, at all, to set up a competitive situation. The trainer's comments caused me enough doubt to post the question here.............but, from the reactions on this Forum, it sounds like there is general agreement that what I am doing is perfectly OK.
I am trying, day to day, to find varying opportunities to "train" him........for example, making him wait for me to go through doors first, making him go to his bed when i sit down to watch TV (as opposed to laying on furniture), making him follow an obedience command before he gets any kind of treat, etc. I am assuming that it is important for Lurch to understand that he is not top dog and that I am Moma-In-Charge. Even during "play" I make up little routines that require his attention. Is this approach, like the "wait" for food, generally sound? Especially since we are talking about a very large animal who is, presumably, going to be a much better family member if he is not a loose cannon?

[LucyJ]

Maryh,
Sounds like you're doing a fantastic job with Lurch! Keep up the good work. And what a name... Lurch :D I love it! :)

[maryh]

Thank you! I named him Lurch because he is such a big clumsy ox of a fellow. You know how funny they are when they trip over their own feet and then jump up really quick and pretend like they didn't actually fall??? That's Lurch!!!

[Subhematoma]

I know every dog that I have owned not just my rotty that I own now waits for their meal. I just hate trying to pure the food with that big mellon in the way. She sits and waits for the command to take it. (If i could teach the cat to do that i would be in heaven). The leash thing.....Well my dogs sit/down/then I throw the food on the ground and they wont take it until the command (no leash training) this should be pretty easily taught without it meaning less stress for the dog and you. If they dont do it they dont get it no exceptions. (popcorn works well and is plentiful for repition).... Good Luck :D

[LucyJ]

Absolutely. And if you have kids it's a great idea to let the kids put him in a down stay and then release him for his food. It teaches him that the kids are to be respected and are Alpha to him too. My kids love to give Chief commands and reward him with treats or praise. It also teaches the kids to be respectful yet firm and the dog will respect them too. My little ones, 7 yrs old, feel so confident about themselves when they can "control" a dog who's so much bigger than them with mere words. They're so cute when they're so proud of themselves. :D

[rottmommie]

no it wont make him nervous, or create anxiety.....sheesh....
dogs love to obey and perform....they really enjoy the praise when a job is well done....
they like direction and thrive on it!!! they like to learn!!!

too bad some folks dont treat their kids as well as we treat our dogs huh???