 Training new puppy to sit and down
#209190 - 09/10/2008 06:54 PM |
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I have had Rottweilers for many many years. After losing my male a year or so ago, my wife and I decided for reasons I won't go into here, to try a Boxer this time around. We got a new male puppy about a month and a half ago. He's 2 days short of 4 months old. I'm having a small issue that I never remember having with my rotties. When teaching him to sit and down, he does great as long as I have treats in my hand. If I don't have the treats, he'll usually sit, but he will not down at all. He just wants to search my hand for the treat. I seem to remember that my rotties would pick it up really quick and it soon didn't matter if I had the treat or not. I haven't been able to work with Kody every single day, but it's probably been 9 or 10 days out of the last 2 weeks. Am I expecting too much too soon? Are Boxers typically a little more hard headed than rotties? This is not going to be a working dog. Just a family pet, if that matters.
Thanks,
Kory
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Re: Training new puppy to sit and down
[Re: Kordell Fox ]
#209200 - 09/10/2008 09:11 PM |
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IMO it is important to work the dog on a daily basis. I try to work my dog at least 2-4 times per day for 2 to 5 minutes. Puppies have a short attention span so better to keep your sessions short. I like to do training exercises every day because they learn fron association and repetition. I also teach one command at a time before going on to another. For example, I don't teach the dog down (or any other command whatever it may be) until he knows the first command with distractions well. All the boxers I have trained were fairly smart and caught on quickly. Maybe incorporate some leadership exercises into your day to day activities. You could also try using a toy instead of treats for motivation.
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Re: Training new puppy to sit and down
[Re: Kordell Fox ]
#209202 - 09/10/2008 09:16 PM |
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I'm having a small issue .... he does great as long as I have treats in my hand. If I don't have the treats, he'll usually sit, but he will not down at all. He just wants to search my hand for the treat. I seem to remember that my rotties would pick it up really quick and it soon didn't matter if I had the treat or not. I haven't been able to work with Kody every single day, but it's probably been 9 or 10 days out of the last 2 weeks. Am I expecting too much too soon? Are Boxers typically a little more hard headed than rotties? This is not going to be a working dog. Just a family pet, if that matters.
Thanks,
Kory
Can you describe the "sit" command, for example?
Where is the reward? How did you show him how to do it the first time? Are you using marker training? What's your marker?
I suspect from what you post that maybe the "reward" was used as a (visible) bribe .... so if you can describe how you do a new command first and subsequent times, I betcha we can pinpoint it. 
"Will not down" I will guess means "does not get it yet."
I'm with Lisa on the very short but daily fun little sessions.
P.S. Would you like marker training info?
Edited by Connie Sutherland (09/10/2008 09:23 PM)
Edit reason: ps
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Re: Training new puppy to sit and down
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#209211 - 09/10/2008 11:00 PM |
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One of my boxers, Brandy, was a real knucklehead. Her issue was mostly that she was high drive, with no focus. It took years for her to learn to focus all that energy for any length of time (although most of that was my inexperience, and not the dog's inability).
I don't think it was breed specific, either. Her brother, of the same litter, was very focused, calm and attentive. Of course, he was also lower drive.
Each dog is different, and has a different personality.
I'm with everyone else on the short, quick marker sessions.
I wish I'd understood marker training way back when I was training Brandy. It would have made a world of difference.
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Re: Training new puppy to sit and down
[Re: Kordell Fox ]
#209235 - 09/11/2008 06:25 AM |
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I would like info. on marker training. I don't know anything about that. My method for sit has been to have him standing in front of me with the treat in my hand so he knows it's there. I raise it up over his head and say sit at the same time. Raising it over his head makes him naturally sit. The second he sits, I give the treat and praise. With the down, I have him all ready sitting, show the treat, lower to the floor/ground and say down. Same as sit, as soon as he downs completely, I give the treat. He did both, right from the start very easily, but will not down without the treat in my hand. He doesn't enough interest in toys to train with. He will play with them when he feels like it, but not enough drive to train with them.
Kory
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Re: Training new puppy to sit and down
[Re: Kordell Fox ]
#209242 - 09/11/2008 09:34 AM |
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Hi Kory,
Here's a link to get started with marker training.
http://leerburg.com/pdf/markers.pdf (Free E-book)
I think your pup does not understand what 'down' means yet.
Read through the marker training and start again w/ the 'down'.
Use really yummy treats, like bits of cooked chicken or beef and keep your sessions very short and fun...
Also, try training before mealtime, so that your pup is a bit hungry...
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Re: Training new puppy to sit and down
[Re: Kordell Fox ]
#209256 - 09/11/2008 11:02 AM |
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With the down, I have him all ready sitting...
Try not to make too much of a habit of giving the down, from the sit.
The dog learns that down begins with the sit, and either A) won't down from a stand, or B) insists on sitting, and THEN downing. Either way, they tend to be slower on the down. It's not that nice, snappy drop.
Otherwise, it sounds like you are doing great, and I think you'll be able to incorporate marker training nicely, without having to change your training style dramatically. The opening for the "mark" is already there- you understand the concept, it's just widening and expanding on what you already know.
So, does your boxer snore?
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Re: Training new puppy to sit and down
[Re: Kordell Fox ]
#209321 - 09/11/2008 05:27 PM |
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Thanks for the help guys. I'm too exhausted to read the marker training info. tonight, but I'll defenitely do it tomorrow.
Yes he does snore but not too bad so far.
Kory
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