The Road to the CGC test

[Justicemom]

I use my commands this way.

Sit, down, or stand mean go into that position until you get the next command. If they change positions without a next command they are placed back into the asked for position. So what you are saying to the dog,is there is another command coming don't move until I tell you what to do, stayed tuned. If there is no other command they should maintain the position until they get it. The next command could be freedom to do as you please or something else. Some people will use wait here also.

Stay is used to relate to the dog that no other command is coming. Relax and stay in the asked for position until I come back and release you. Do not move no matter what until you hear the release word. I could pull you forward or down with the lead(gentlely) resist me changing your positon. The dog is never called or released at a distance from stay. I also use a physical tap on the chest or side in combo with the release word to make it very clear they are free.

I use ok or all done. It doesn't matter to my dogs.

 

[Diana]

I have a quick questions: teach Stay or no? My instructor told me that once put in the position, the dog should wait for the release word to move, therefore Stay is redundant. (She showed me how to use the Release word to make sure that Duncan was set up for success and I wasn't frustrated with him and he wasn't frustrated with me.) I understand that reasoning, but I don't know. The poodle's mom, another instructor at the school commented that she taught a Stay. The only way we could get Pierre to stay in place was the explicit Stay.

No offense to Pierre, but Duncan is brighter. With agility or some activity like it in the future, which is better? (I may need a whole thread for this one!)

Um, yeah.... I think it is important to teach Stay. Here's how I learned it at obedience class:

The important thing with stay is to make sure you treat when they are actually in a stay. And start with very, very short stays.... like 1 second, 2 seconds, and then work your way up. Do the hand signal and stay command the same way each time. You can even do it on walks.... practice wait or stay before anything really, it teaches them manners. In training sessions, I often put Buffy in a stay, walk away, and then come back and treat her.

Don't mix up stay and come. That's how you get the problem of your dog breaking a stay before you call him to you. Make sure your dog has a rock-solid 30 second stay before you start the sit-stay-come sequence. Until then, do come with another person holding your dog, or by throwing a toy away and then calling come. It does take a while to get all three commands down in sequence - you won't be doing that right away.

 

[Chris]

Is "okay" the most widely used release word? I was contemplating what the instructor said about using "all right" instead because it is something we need to consciously say and it isn't as widely used in normal conversation (that way, you aren't accidentally releasing your dog).

I say "release." More like "ree-leese!"

 

[Lovely]

Thank you guys! I will be saying "stay" as well, since I realized today that I've been using the hand signal anyway. We haven't done the sit-stay-come thing yet. I'm looking forward to it!

When the other instructor mentioned the explicit Stay, my instructor wasn't contradictory. She let me know that it is different for every dog/handler pair. What works for us may not work for her. She wanted to let me know of a different method.

Progress thus far:
-My clicking is on cue most of the time. I need to be just as focused as Duncan.

-We are up to a 15-20 second stay from about 5 feet. I don't want to push it too much, but Duncan keeps giving me the "challenge me further" face.

-I've been better about using the release word, but I am not quite sure it is getting across.

-Sits and downs are getting quicker and better (and generalized)!!

 

[take4roll10]

I use "wait" with "come". Bailey is trained that "stay" means you stay in the position until I return to you. With "wait" she is waiting for another command like "come" or "front" or "take it" (when I'm feeding her).

 

[Lovely]

I have an interesting twist to the plot!

So far, I have done pretty much all the training for both Pierre and Duncan. Ever since Duncan bonded to me and Pierre stuck to my DH, we agreed to take individual responsibility for their training. Pierre is bright, but extremely stubborn.

With this new class, I have been working with Duncan on some things, but not Pierre. My DH thought that wasn't a good idea, though, and suggested that I work them both at the same time. When Duncan was younger, it was possible, giving him the idea that is could still work. However, now, they get very distracted with each other, and it isn't the best scenario.

It came down to him wanting Pierre in the class as well. The only reason we didn't in the first place was because of his work schedule, but we think we can manage. We contacted the instructor, and she let us sign up add in Pierre.

This is just funny because his "amazing" plan of training the dogs at the same time, in the same room, with two different handlers went something like this: Duncan gave me full attention and got a lot done. Pierre, went from ignoring my DH to running over to me and offering tricks. I ignored Pierre completely and he would return happily to DH for a few minutes before doing it again. My DH doesn't want me to do training with Duncan more than he does with Pierre (all at the same time!), but I will do it when I have time and Duncan's energy is right. I told him to do the same with Pierre.

This will be fun - having a little competition between us to see who is progressing further. It might also help out with Pierre - if I don't reward him for coming to me while working with Duncan, hopefully it will strengthen my DH's position as being in charge. Also, I hope my DH gets the point that it requires a lot of dedication to do training.

 

[Diana]

I'm impressed that Duncan is so focused! How old is he? Not too old, right?

I look forward to hearing more about your "competition" with your husband. In my house, I have noticed that I end up doing a lot more of the training, even though he's not averse to it, and as a result I generally get a better response from Buffy.

Another thing I have noticed: Buffy's response time varies based on who is giving the command. Both my husband and I get a much better response from Buffy than my parents.... because they never reinforce or practice commands. Does Duncan respond to you differently than he responds to your husband? Just curious. Putting in the time really does pay off for me, training wise. Like you said, it takes work!

 

[Calliesmom]

I'm impressed that Duncan is so focused! How old is he? Not too old, right?

I look forward to hearing more about your "competition" with your husband. In my house, I have noticed that I end up doing a lot more of the training, even though he's not averse to it, and as a result I generally get a better response from Buffy.

Another thing I have noticed: Buffy's response time varies based on who is giving the command. Both my husband and I get a much better response from Buffy than my parents.... because they never reinforce or practice commands. Does Duncan respond to you differently than he responds to your husband? Just curious. Putting in the time really does pay off for me, training wise. Like you said, it takes work!

I see a difference in Cranberry with my Dad. Dad pretty much gives him treats for anything and not really for doing something that was asked for. I give him treats when he does something I asked him to do and he did it. so Dad is surprised when Cranpup listens to me and not him. though there are some things that he does for Dad too

 

[Justicemom]

I see a difference in Cranberry with my Dad. Dad pretty much gives him treats for anything and not really for doing something that was asked for. I give him treats when he does something I asked him to do and he did it. so Dad is surprised when Cranpup listens to me and not him. though there are some things that he does for Dad too

My Mom loves my dogs but like your Dad rewards them for doing anything. As a result they are very pushy with her especially Justice, although Diva was catching on quick last visit. She can't understand why they beg and don't listen to her and they listen and don't beg from me.

 

[Lovely]

I'm impressed that Duncan is so focused! How old is he? Not too old, right?

I look forward to hearing more about your "competition" with your husband. In my house, I have noticed that I end up doing a lot more of the training, even though he's not averse to it, and as a result I generally get a better response from Buffy.

Another thing I have noticed: Buffy's response time varies based on who is giving the command. Both my husband and I get a much better response from Buffy than my parents.... because they never reinforce or practice commands. Does Duncan respond to you differently than he responds to your husband? Just curious. Putting in the time really does pay off for me, training wise. Like you said, it takes work!

Thanks! Duncan is 8 months old. Yesterday's training session had Duncan going back and forth between us, but he listened *almost* every time I called him to me. It didn't help that my hubby snuck him a treat when he'd run over there. Stinker!

Duncan DOES respond differently. I think this is because I use a consistent set of hand signals and commands, but my hubby thinks that the voice is enough. I'm also inthe refining stages of the training. He knows the stuff, but now I'm teaching him the difference in the hand signal for Touch as opposed to Down, Sit, or Stay. With DH, he does the lower level things without mixing it up too much.

I think that my DH wishes Pierre were at the same level, but he just isn't. When I try to give helpful hints like "work one thing for a few minutes, break for a few, then work another" (instead of bouncing around like he's doing, leading to a frustrated Pierre AND him), I think he thinks I'm saying Pierre is slow. Not so!! But DH doesn't have the patience I do, so it is interesting to see him in this somewhat new role.

Both dogs are making progress, but at this point - Duncan and I are excelling!

We'll see if the instructor agrees tonight at class.