When I start the stands, I hold the dog in place, quietly petting and praising. The next step is to only step in front at which point I often loop the end of the leash around the waist, so you are able to hold the front half of the dog still and the hindquarters up. I slowly add a step back at a time, as well as just moving to the left or right, gradually working to the point where I can go around the dog. I find that if I can move around the dog and it learns not to move more than it's head, the going away gets easier. If even one foot is moved one step I return to the dog and put it back where it was. But I stay close for a long time. I also never ask for the sit or recall until almost trial time, and even then only occasionally. I generally go back to the dog and heel out of the stand position then reward exuberantly. Good luck!

Sue

I'm thinking about the Happylegs thing. How would you go about applying that position to the Stand In Motion.

How about it SchH3FH2? Got any ideas? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

(Inside Joke)

Here is a trick that I learned watching a television show about teaching pointers to point.

Once the dog is in the stand position, gently rub the dogs fur in the wrong direction between the shoulder blades and apply a little bit of pressure. This causes the reflex to stay put and not move forward (like when you tug on the collar and puppy balks and won't move forward). They brace with their front legs so it might eliminate the sitting.

Hope this helps...Natalie

http://vegamalinois.tripod.com

Ok VanCamp, I can't resist rising to the bait!!
Karmen, you didn't say how you taught it originally, so I'll wing it. The most common problem when dogs confuse the motion commands is because the various commands are too similar. Make sure your stay command is significantly different in pitch from the other motion commands. For example, the sit is very high pitched, the stay is almost monotone, and the platz is very deep for me. Whether he catches the word or not, he'll catch the tone.

I teach the stay initially by lightly pressing my palm against his groin, just in front of the penis. There is a weak, but still useful, reflex in a dog to freeze up when touched there - originally from the mother cleaning him as a pup and later still noticeable when two dogs meet. If one sniffs the groin of the other, it will usually stiffen and lock up. I do the same as everybody else as far as gradually moving slowly around the dog while staying close so I can immediately correct any movement. I also will slowly, gradually push on the dog's shoulder or hip while asking him to stay. When he leans hard into me to keep his balance so he won't have to move his feet, I know he understands his job. Obviously more proofing like running past him or throwing the ball while he is holding the stand ensures that he won't break.

To improve his ability to discriminate between the behaviors of the three motion commands, I do this part all in fun: I call out different positions at random, sit-platz-sit-steh. He earns his ball for quick compliance. If he shows he doesn't understand what I want, I simply help him (touch him in the groin to raise him to a standing position). AGain, watch the tone of voice -they cue off that more than the word. When you get consistently correct responses to the random changing of positions, you can be pretty sure he can discriminate.

Of course, you always have the option that the two Belgian world champions told us at a seminar 2 wks ago: pattern train. It's not for me, but hell, they're the world champions, right?? They ALWAYS do their motion commands in the exact same order EVERY TIME. The dog simply learns the sequence. He may not truly understand the command, but he has learned a pattern and is reliable.

OK, now that was interesting. That peepee thing is pretty smart.

I have found all of Sch3FH2 advise is very smart... but this one is so obvious it's stupid.. but of course you would never think of it would you? I know I wouldn't! But it is right on the money, I have watched dogs meet and this is exactally what my dog does when he is being "checked out" again I am baffled and amazed at your keen sense of training the obvious. (shaking head in amazment)

Im not into sch,so the stance is not an important command to me. I take that back I do have a stop command. My son taught my female a trick by using the same technique that was discussed. He observed when she is stroked in that area she lifts up her rear leg. The trick is pee like a boy.

Milt

Hey guys did ya miss me? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I've been at the GSD Nationals practicing those stands <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I will have you know that his stands were very good. He locked the walking stand and he locked the running stand but then took two steps. This was one of those "my dog has NEVER done that before" thing. This is his third SchH III trial and the first time he took any steps on any of the stands.

What I did to finally get him to understand what was asked of him is I changed my pace to a slower pace and jog. I then would slightly touch him on the side with my hand with the command. I would softly say the command and then walk a few paces then return with a reward. This has worked well with this dog.