I have been training my dog on table for distance control (sit, down, stand) for long time. However, when I put her on the floor (flat ground), she will move her body forward while executing a command. She executes prefectly on table but she knows that once she is flat ground, she works differently. This caused I lost points during competition.
Is there a better way to train the distance control ?

Do you actaully correct the dog if he moves his body forward on the flat ground while executing a distance control command and how ?

Many thanks

Stanley when shaping a behavior, it has been my experience that every time you change your dogs situation you must reinforce that behavior in much the same way you did in teaching that behavior. The difference is the dog won't take nearly as much time to understand that he needs to react the same way in every situation. Should you correct the dog if he moves? Yes just as you did when teaching that behavior. For example I taught articles on cement and the dog was downing perfectly on every article. Then I move the articles to grass and the dog got to the first article and did go down but he was very unsure and went down very slowly and was a bit confused. Why? Because it was a different situation for him. So I then began anew to teach the down on the article on grass just as I did on cement. Soon the dog was reacting just as he once did when first taught. Do not allow the dog to make a mistake or else he will learn that that behavior right or wrong is what you want in the new situation. Norman

Thanks Norman. That's what I will do for the rest of the exercises. However, the challenge is the Distance Control. While she is on table, tt's no room for her to step forward, no correction required. Initially I thought it will be a habbit for her not to move the body if I train her on table long enough (years) but it doesn't seem to be the case.

When on the ground, how to correct if the dog steps forward but executed the command correctly ?
Till now, I still can't solve this problem.

I am also willing to try out new method besides using the table for distance control if anyone advises me.

Regards

Stanley no one can accurately advise you how to correct your dog until they have seen the dynamic between you and your dog. You ask, "When on the ground, how to correct if the dog steps forward but executed the command correctly?". If the dog steps forward it is not executing the command correctly. All I can say is, stop the dog from stepping forward in a way that the dog will understand and you will solve this problem. This communication between you and your dog, is the definition of a dog handler. In the event you can't figure out a way to communicate with your dog ask someone in your club whose dog doesn't move how they did it, and then you do likewise. There is no shame in asking for help all of us here including Ed have done so. I will live you with this regarding training methods, if it doesn't make sense to you it won't to your dog.Norman

There are many ways to approach this and it is definitely a challenging exercise. There is a positions exercise in mondioring as well where the dog is a good distance away and they must sit, down, and stand on command.

It is important that your dog learn the 'proper' way to do the positions...which may mean reteaching the way the dog executes it. For example...the sit...you want the dogs rear to decide where it is sitting and not the rear meeting the front feet. The problem lies in the way most dogs are taught to sit, usually by tucking their rear. In the stand (which I don't believe is part of the UD distance portion) the dog should kick their rear out instead of moving forward to a standing position.

I have seen several methods tried...one being starting on the table which you have done, for some dogs it just carries over. Others have rigged a 3 sided square with PVC pipe (at about the dog's chest height) that the dog stands behind preventing them from moving forward, hoping to train muscle memory and the fact that they don't need to get close to execute commands. Yet another way is to have someone standing with a long line on the dogs collar and another around the dogs flanks...for this you need another person who understands what you're doing to ensure body control and that the dog doesnt move forward (this is not necessarily corrections, just restriction of forward motion).

Finally, depending on what methods you use for training...don't reward the behavior. Have the dog start over...even if you said sit and he sits but moves forward to do so, that is not what you asked which equals no reward.

Just a couple of thoughts for you!

I went from the table to pvc tubes on the ground to a mat with my boxer. She was a tough nut with distance work. If i had to do over I would concider the e collar. She got her CDX but there are days I wonder how?

Thanks for sharing the experience and advice. Will try the pvc pipe method.

Regards