Help with Homework Please!!

[Zo zo's mom]

Zoe's homework for Sunday's class includes the following:

Say her name and get eye contact-Click and reward.

Sit-Click and reward.(and then she jumps right back up)

Down-Click and reward.

Tracking/Getting her to follow a treat while I am walking-Click and reward.

Everything is going well, except for Down. I know this is the first night and she won't be get everything right away, but Down seems hard when you are already so close to the ground I guess.

The lesson plan say to get the pup to down, place a treat in front of their nose and bring it down slowly between their front paws. She just bends over and takes the treat. She puts her head down, but that is it.

Do you guys have any tricks to help me with "Down"? PLEASE.

Thanks

[Morkie4]

Way back when I took classes, they did not use clickers or treats. They taught us to put them in the "sit" position and then perform the hand signal for down and at the same time say "down" and then proceed to hold the bum down and pull the front legs out from under them so they are "placed" in the down position. Everything was done slowly and with a gentle movement and once they are in the down position..........praise was their reward. REPETITION was the key to success.:)

[LittleDogLVR]

Megan did it with Lizzie, like Carol said get her in the sit position and then
Megan would put her hands between her paws and rubbed the floor.
If she doesnt start to go down gently pull her legs a little forward and as soon as she hits the ground give her a click and a treat.
Do it a few times and she will get the hang of it.


Its ok for her to break the command after you click. as time goes on and she gets better you will pause before clicking increasing the time and alternating fast click and slow click to mix it up.

As Im writing this Lizzie is about to Play American Girl doll.....while Megan is in the shower....Oh boy :)

John

[Zo zo's mom]

Thanks guys

I got Marco to try too (I had to go hide in the basement or she wouldn't pay attention to him:D :blush: :lol2: ) and he couldn't get it.

If all else fails, I'll get Megan to go to class with Zo zo:D :wink5:

[LittleDogLVR]

Thanks guys

I got Marco to try too (I had to go hide in the basement or she wouldn't pay attention to him:D :blush: :lol2: ) and he couldn't get it.

If all else fails, I'll get Megan to go to class with Zo zo:D :wink5:

Oh she would love that !!!
Before we got Lizzie she found a book on dog training for kids.
I think that is where she got started, she had Lizzie sitting the first day we had her....oh how times have changed !

[GrannyKnot]

You could try this:
Have the dog sit. Let her see you place a treat in your hand. Close your hand and place it on the ground in front of the dog. "Down." Her head will go down but only to try to get the treat. Gradually slide your hand away from her along the ground. "Down." She starts kind of crawling on her tummy towards your hand. Stop moving your hand - yeah she's down - CLICK and reward.:)

It took about 3 tries for us and I found it so much easier than trying to hold clicker and treat and manually place the dog in the down position - not enough hands:o Once that was out of the way, we dispensed with the clicker and it took about 15 minutes to get Pip to go down with front paws outstretched, by placing my hand flat on the ground in front of him. This helps for later classes because it is quite like the distance hand signal for down. After another 15 minutes I could place a treat on each front paw and tell him to "wait" until told he could have them. :D

[Love my Leo]

I could not get Leo to lay down!!!!!!!! So training ended....well sort of. I had my treats ready and clicker attached to my wrist ready to go while I just played on the computer, Leo would eventually lay down by my feet. CLICK and treat. he was clueless at first why I had done this but after he would tire and lay down numerous times (alot) and get "clicked" every time he did, he finally got it. Does this make sense?

Cathy:D

[Zo zo's mom]

I could not get Leo to lay down!!!!!!!! So training ended....well sort of. I had my treats ready and clicker attached to my wrist ready to go while I just played on the computer, Leo would eventually lay down by my feet. CLICK and treat. he was clueless at first why I had done this but after he would tire and lay down numerous times (alot) and get "clicked" every time he did, he finally got it. Does this make sense?

Cathy:D

Yes that makes perfect sense Cathy. The trainer did mention something about catching them in the act of a behavior, but I didn't put it together until I saw your post!! Thanks:yay_jump: :cheer: :thankyou:

Thanks to everyone else for the suggestions. We are going to give them all a try.

BTW- I was getting ready for work and I heard Marco downstairs with the clicker, so he is fitting in training sessions as he can (I am so proud):D

[lilybellesmom]

Way back when I took classes, they did not use clickers or treats. They taught us to put them in the "sit" position and then perform the hand signal for down and at the same time say "down" and then proceed to hold the bum down and pull the front legs out from under them so they are "placed" in the down position. Everything was done slowly and with a gentle movement and once they are in the down position..........praise was their reward. REPETITION was the key to success.:)

That's how I taught Kira and LB how to lay down. Treats, praise and repetition.

[Zo zo's mom]

Marco was able to get Zoe to complete the "Down" command last night, using a combination of the advice you guys gave us.

Thanks so much.

Here are videos of Zo zo and dad in action (I am sorry the first one is sideways, I forget you can't rotate videos like you can pictures).

http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/lizboo_2007/?action=view&current=2008001.flv


http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/lizboo_2007/?action=view&current=2008002.flv

[Morkie4]

Zo zo is sooooooo smart. She caught on really quick how to get Marco to fetch her a treat and click the clicker. I love it when they are so responsive and catch on ........... I truly think they "love" to learn new things and please their packleaders!!!! Good going to both "Zo zo" and "Marco." The videographer needs a few lessons though!:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

Thanks for sharing her progress with us...........I just know she is going to the top of her class with all your and Marco's efforts.

GOOOOOOOOOO ZO ZO

[Zo zo's mom]

:hearter: :hearter: :hearter: Zo zo is sooooooo smart. She caught on really quick how to get Marco to fetch her a treat and click the clicker. I love it when they are so responsive and catch on ........... I truly think they "love" to learn new things and please their packleaders!!!! Good going to both "Zo zo" and "Marco." The videographer needs a few lessons though!:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

Thanks for sharing her progress with us...........I just know she is going to the top of her class with all your and Marco's efforts.

GOOOOOOOOOO ZO ZO


Thanks so much Carol. She was having a really good time and she does seem eager to please.

(The videographer apologizes, but the sideways video was too cute not to share)

[Morkie4]

:hearter: :hearter: :hearter:


Thanks so much Carol. She was having a really good time and she does seem eager to please.

(The videographer apologizes, but the sideways video was too cute not to share)

I agree!!! I'm glad you took my flack about the sideway shot as a kid! I would not have wanted to miss that vid for anything!:D :D :D It was just a matter of laying on my side and watching it and it was "just fine.":p :p

[Love my Leo]

Really Elizabeth, aren't you amazed at how quickly Zo zo is picking up on the clicker training? When I have really good treats Leo gets confused and starts doing all his tricks. :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

cathy:D

[Zo zo's mom]

I know. She's so quick with it and on Sunday I thought she was going to run off with the clicker (like it was a toy).

This morning, I didn't even have to tell her Down from Sit...she just did it, I clicked and she got a treat. I also called it "Down" too.

[Morkie4]

Really Elizabeth, aren't you amazed at how quickly Zo zo is picking up on the clicker training? When I have really good treats Leo gets confused and starts doing all his tricks. :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

cathy:D

I wouldn't call that confused...........I'd call that pretty smart with a touch of craftiness thrown in for good measure!!!! Tooooooooo Funny!:lol2: :lol2:

[Love my Leo]

I wouldn't call that confused...........I'd call that pretty smart with a touch of craftiness thrown in for good measure!!!! Tooooooooo Funny!:lol2: :lol2:

It is funny and oh so cute!:hearter: :hearter: