Voraus or go out - Page 2

Jim, what happens when you ask the dog to down and he ignores you and gets the ball? What problems do you think that that might cause?

>  Good explaination Jim!!

Thanks Deacon.

Christopher, I have found when teaching young dogs, initially, the dog will be faster to obey the down command as it reaches the ball.  I have the 30' line in my hand or my foot is on it so I can correct immediuately if the dog doesn't down instantly.  I never give a command I cannot immediately enforce in training.  I set the dog and myself up for success and try to avoid failure when training.  Obviously, allowing the dog to get the ball and ignoring the command would be self rewarding for the dog and he would learn it's ok to ignore the down command.  If the dog is at the ball, initially in training, he will have satisfied the drive to get the ball and will comply with the down command easier (IMO).  Timing is critical.  This is a brief transition, once the dog understands that if he downs quickly he will get the ball, I down him before the ball.  Now I've upped the anty and the correction is also increased.  

Next, I will command the dog to down while running with the toy in his mouth.  The dog will be running  back to me or away, periodically I add a "platz" command.  I should also say that "down" for my dogs means simply down, I use this command in the house.  Down does not mean down and stay, it is similar to sit.  Now, "Platz" means down and stay, you are not allowed to move.  "Platz" for my dogs is one of the strongest commands they have, they are never allowed to break a Platz command.  My dogs learn that platz means down and stay regardless of what's going on around them. 

The training for me is a progression.  My dogs learn the down command is a safe happy place from puppies.  They constantly get praised for downing and rewarded as young dogs.  As the dog is older, I increase the distances and uses different techniques for teh correction if necessary.  My current dog learned this as a puppy, I can send him full speed on a decoy in a bite suit and down him anywhere in between if I need too.  We call it "termination of pursuit"  it has lots of applications with a police dog.

I'm interested in hearing how you train it, I love to learn new ways to train.  I'm sure there could be better ways to do it, this has worked for me.

Jim