Teaching sit from a down

[Taulmaril]

I'm having trouble teaching my pup sit from down. She has a solid sit from a stand and down from a stand (She will even do it when I'm on the other side of the yard) but she gets confused with sit when she is already down. Any tips on how to teach this. I'd appreciate any help. Thanks

[WorkinDogz]

I use food when teaching this. It's a separate exercise...so don't think that because she knows "sit" she should know sit from a down.

Stand in front of her; have food in your right hand...guide her up (food from nose) to a sit while telling her "SIT" then reward and praise for a solid (not crooked...not lazy) sit.

You can do the same from the heel position; but make sure you have the food in the left hand and bend at the knees not the waist...remember your shoulders are a key for the heel position...more so than the knees in my opinion.

[Mattweiser]

I have the same problems....

my boy thinks down is the ultimate in "safety".... probably my fault (too heavy-handed early on :( )

so when I try to get him up in a sit... he gets confused... If I try to use the leash, he goes into avoidance (ears back) and gets even lower...

If I use food, he jumps up....

-Matt

[patty_k]

The way I have been taught was to have her on the left side, while standing forward and not looking at her, then put her in a down. I always do the hand command with the verbal. Once in a down I will say "sit" and at the same time bend at the knees only (back straight and still looking forward) and use the hand signal for it as I pull slightly up on the leash. After a few tries, I then give the dog a chance and if doesn't do it, say "no", sit and use the leash to pull up until I no longer had to use the leash at all. Just the hand signal or verbal.
When you are in front of the dog the motion is the same, bend at knees only, hand and verbal command. So, I do the one at side and once she understood that I could do the one in front without needing the leash to help.
I don't use treats, but only because I could never mastered the timing of it.
I guess you have to see it to better understand. I also know you aren't suppose to really touch the dog or use the leash to get them to do commands, so the treat one is better.

Patty

[luvarott]

Shoot.....why even bother for now??
One of the biggest causes of failure in CD trials is dogs that sit when they are supposed to be doing their down

[Judi W]

I'll just add one little trick I use. Pivot so you are directly in front of the dog. As you give the sit command, take a tiny step towards the dog, bending your knee slightly in towards his head. As the dog pulls back from the knee - they are sitting! Keep the leash short so the dog doesn't move away or back and you can give a slight tug upwards, but it usually isn't necessary. Soon you will get so you just step your right foot towards the front of the dog while you remain in heel position and then that will disappear completely. You can treat or not.