So I found that I can use bacon for my 9 week old rottie. Once he knows I have it, he will come to me short distance (2-4 feet away) and I can lure him into a sit with it. He does not have enough attention span to do the charge the mark like in the video. About what age should I expect him to focus on me enough to do that?

Second, if I can consistantly lure him into a sit, I'm still not quite sure how and when to start adding the sit command to it? I don't think he's ready for that now, just trying to figure out how I know he's ready and do I say sit as I lure him, or wait until he sits and then say it or something else?

 Quote: Kory Fox

So I found that I can use bacon for my 9 week old rottie. Once he knows I have it, he will come to me short distance (2-4 feet away) and I can lure him into a sit with it. He does not have enough attention span to do the charge the mark like in the video. About what age should I expect him to focus on me enough to do that?

Second, if I can consistantly lure him into a sit, I'm still not quite sure how and when to start adding the sit command to it? I don't think he's ready for that now, just trying to figure out how I know he's ready and do I say sit as I lure him, or wait until he sits and then say it or something else?

The puppy experts will answer #1.

For #2, I don't name it until I like it. But also, I don't name it until I'm ready to deal with how I will respond if the command that I have now named isn't complied with.

This article might be a good adjunct to the DVD. (You have Power of Markers, right?)

http://leerburg.com/markers.htm

Scroll to

If You are not Giving Commands How Does Your Dog Know What You Want to Train Today?

and

When to Add a Command

and

How to Add a Command

But I know others will have MUCH better answers, for a very young puppy. (This age is not my forte. )

 Quote: Kory Fox

So I found that I can use bacon for my 9 week old rottie. Once he knows I have it, he will come to me short distance (2-4 feet away) and I can lure him into a sit with it. He does not have enough attention span to do the charge the mark like in the video. About what age should I expect him to focus on me enough to do that?

Second, if I can consistantly lure him into a sit, I'm still not quite sure how and when to start adding the sit command to it? I don't think he's ready for that now, just trying to figure out how I know he's ready and do I say sit as I lure him, or wait until he sits and then say it or something else?

I just lure pups into the positions along with lots of play & fun times. I want my pup to think that I am the greatest thing in the whole world.

I start marker training (charging the mark) within the frist few days that they come into my home. But it is all for fun to know that my 'yes' means good things are coming. I don't actually do any real training for a few weeks. The only exception to that is that I will mark everytime the pup looks at me. Other then that I just lure & feed treats while luring.

I really just want to start with fun & potty training in the first few weeks. Once the pup is well settled in & potty training is solid day & night. Then I start very short (1-2 min)training sessions. Again it is just luring & marking. But they are more specific actual training. Telling the pup...time to train. & the end the sessions telling the pup we are all done.

Like Connie, I don't name anything (give it a command name) until down the road. I want everything all positive no correction (no negative markers) at all of any kind. Just fun.

Pup might be more like 5-6 months old before I start using any commands & negative markers. Depends on the dog.

I just lure pups into the positions along with lots of play & fun times. I want my pup to think that I am the greatest thing in the whole world.

I start marker training (charging the mark) within the frist few days that they come into my home. But it is all for fun to know that my 'yes' means good things are coming. I don't actually do any real training for a few weeks. The only exception to that is that I will mark everytime the pup looks at me. Other then that I just lure & feed treats while luring.

I really just want to start with fun & potty training in the first few weeks. Once the pup is well settled in & potty training is solid day & night. Then I start very short (1-2 min)training sessions. Again it is just luring & marking. But they are more specific actual training. Telling the pup...time to train. & the end the sessions telling the pup we are all done.

Like Connie, I don't name anything (give it a command name) until down the road. I want everything all positive no correction (no negative markers) at all of any kind. Just fun.

Pup might be more like 5-6 months old before I start using any commands & negative markers. Depends on the dog.

Just my way.

5-6 months, o.k. I was thinking much earlier. Can you please explain to me HOW you add the command though?

Removed post: different method than suggested earlier

When you are luring and the pup starts to anticipate your luring move (hand moves over the head for sit) then I add the name.
The big catch is not to lure so long that it becomes a bribe. That's way to easy to do. Give the command, lure, mark and reward. Then the pup will start connecting the word with the lure. "randomly" fade the lure.
I may be different then most folks because I expect a sit, down and come by the time the pup is 12-13 wks old. With that, reading the pup is key. You have to know when the pup is on you enough to do it and not do it to the point of boredom, even with reward.
It's still a pup with the attention span of a hummingbird in a yard full of red flowers.
If you get one good sit,down, whatever in the span of a 2-3 min TV commercial then quit till the next commercial comes along. Make it all a fun game!

 Quote: Kory Fox

He does not have enough attention span to do the charge the mark like in the video. About what age should I expect him to focus on me enough to do that?

For charging the mark you aren't really looking for the dog to look at you for an extended period of time. You are just trying to train him to associate the mark with getting something good. Like Betty pointed out, just mark him looking at you. Even if it's only for a second. Pup looks at you, give your mark (click, yes, whatever you are using) and treat.
If you don't do this step the dog isn't going to know when he's doing what you want.

"You are just trying to train him to associate the mark with getting something good."

Just as Wendy says:

All I do is mark, then reward. Mark, then reward.

All I want (in charging the marker) is for the dog to know that the sound means "reward coming."

Soon he will look for the reward when he hears that sound. It's charged (or loaded)!