distance training - Page 1

I am amazed when I see dogs commanded to sit or lie down - or go to the other end of a arena, turn and sit waiting for the next command - and they do it at a distance without hesitation.

Is this something that is learned by teaching using a long line, then undoing the line?  Are treats or just praise used for reward? 

Also - are there universal hand signals? 

For me its just a lot of walking....  A helper is a plus sometimes but I seldom have one.
I use hand signals and commands. 
I praise but would only give treats for an excellent day.
Repetition... lots of repetition.    No long line, leash and collar.

 Forgive the newbie question, but... so what do you do when they don't stay?

They are retrieved and returned to the correct position, corrected either verbally or with a jolt to the collar and we start all over.
Rewarded when they get it right.
And a lot of walking back and forth

 What's an example of a verbal correction?  Saying "bad girl" or more serious or less serious?

Moons - do you train one at a time? 

I thnk my biggest problem is trying to train all three at once.

The correction depends on the circumstances for me, its a judgment call.
My dog will not just run to the end of a field, she will go to an object, and she will do what I call hunt em up, sorta re-con, or go to a person.
I train one at a time, sometimes keep one to the side on a line or if I have help use one as a distraction, but sometimes its gotta be one on one.

I taught the sit, down and stand at a distance by placing a tape line, 2" bar from the jump, stretched out leash or whatever else is handy between me and the dog (nothing attached to the dog). At first there is very little space between us. I only reward a sit/down/stand that is behind the line. The reward (food, ball, tug, verbal praise..whatever) is given behind the dog. The idea is to remove any benefit from forward movement. Once the dog has the idea I increase the distance. Then remove the line. This works wonderfully with the ball because the dog usually anticipates the throw by moving away from you. I have placed the dog at the top of the stairs or on a picnic table to prevent creeping as well.

I also add handler motion in a different experience. I back up with a tug, and request the sit/down/stand (ala Balabanov). At first I stop until the command is completed and add motion progressively. In this case the dog does move forward to get the reward.

I do add corrections in the final stages but these usually end up being for lack of attention rather than messing up the exercise...I guess that would depend on the dog and/or handler.

This is the first dog I've taught the stand in motion to.  I have a friend that wow'd me a few years back just randoming tossing the command out.  Her dog planted all 4 feet.  I so want my dog to do that!!!!  I'm happy with our moving stand in the heel position (hand signal).  For some reason we have trouble with the random stand (verbal).  I often end up with a sit or down when I request a stand.  The dog is willing and trying so it must be me.  Maybe I haven't spent enough time teaching the verbal command or my command isn't clear...dunno, still working on that one

Ocey, for some reason my dog doesn't want to do a "stand" either! I will also get a sit or down, not what I want when I want to brush him. Hmmmm, I must be doing the same thing (wrong?) your are doing, lol!

am amazed when I see dogs commanded to sit or lie down - or go to the other end of a arena, turn and sit waiting for the next command - and they do it at a distance without hesitation. -  It is cool, isn't it? And to top it off what you described - the dogs do it in drive. My dog has been doing it since he was 8 months old. I can down him or sit him at any distance at any time. But, it is not achieved fast and he expects "something" to come out of it (while being in drive).I let him chase a bal afterwards, point to a tree ( wil graduate to a trial blind and transfer later on) and that is his rewards.

You have to teach him sit from an early age, cose to you, at feeding time while holding the bowl for example, so every meal he has to sit or down for the bowl till it becomes second nature. Sit, sit, sit, sit, down, down, down, down, down, every mea, every day, peppered throughout the day, with or without treats (always praise). Time to put the leash on for a walk. Sit! Put the leash on, praise go on with your walk. Coming back from the walk. Sit! Take the leash off, praise. Going into the car. Sit! Then open the door, get in the car etc... etc...

Every moment you are with your dog he has an opportunity to learn something, or to proof something he knows already. I remember one time when at a distance of 100 yards in the park a car was speeding by and he was kind of cose to it running towards it chasing a squirre. I yelled down and the dog iteraly froze in the air and anded on his stomach hittign the ground and reamining motionless. I ran up to him heaping praise. I mean, I realy lavished it ike he landed a space shuttle after the engine nlew off. You can see it in his demeanor he was realy proud of himself and enjoying the accolades and that he pleased me. All that "everyday" stuff eventualy leads to "real stuff" Blind search, down out of motion, sit out of motion, retrieving the dumbel, long down exercise etc... Be creative.

Only when he understands the command, after many Sit right by him, you can introduce "distance" sit.


"Forgive the newbie question, but... so what do you do when they don't stay?" -- You ony try to do Sit or Down at a distance when they are buletproof and CLEARLY KNOW the comand, as they have done it before hundreds of times. the first few times do it when you have a "good feeing" they wil obey the command. If they refuse, correct and do it again. You have to say it ony ONE time, don't say Sit, I said sit. Sit dammit... and the dog fell deaf on you kind of minding his own business and thinking Yeah, yeah, I'l get back to you on that one. He heard you the first time.

The first few times do it with the leash, or long leash on. If refusing the command... Get close to him, yank the leash, say No, walk a few steps and command Sit. He should do it. Praise. Try again after a few minutes, he'll get it.

"What's an example of a verbal correction? Saying "bad girl" or more serious or less serious?" -- In my case, I shake my head and say No, not meey or shouting, but kind of a sure No. then, get close to him grab a eash and repeat the exercise.

"I thnk my biggest problem is trying to train all three at once." - Do every command you try to teach ONE AT A TIME> Later on you can join them to the whole thing. One at a time is the best so you break it down for the dog. Easier for him to grasp and easier to teach. Aso, don't burn the dog by doing it al the friggn' time day and night.

For example, you are walking in the park. Grab a stick or a ball, the dog is looking at you intenty calculating your next move. Say Sit. I am assuming the dog already knows the command. AS SOON AS HIS BUTT TOUCHES THE GROUND THROW THE