Yuko, Just to clarify, it is a double command with points off in schutzhund obedience.

Mr. Jones,

When working with an individual dog, and all are proximate, I preface a command with the dog's name. Like: Max, Come. Or: Freya, Go. Or: Brio, Such. Etc.

Or if I want all three to do some thing, just the command, like "Come."

But I do stuff just 'cause I enjoy being with the dogs.

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For your recall anticipation, I would suggest you break this up. You need to break up the routine of if you leave the dog, turn, and say his name, he knows you want a come. You can go out and just return to the dog and then release him. You can go out, say his name and then say good boy, and if he breaks, you can go back and correct him gently back into a sit - you don't want to correct too hard for a dog that wants to come to you. You can go out, say his name and tell him a different command like down. I do a lot of just going out, returning, and then releasing.

Good, I am on the right track now then. Since a very fast recall to front has never been a problem, I have quit working it for now (with the exception of when I am doing a practice formal obedience routine with an instructor making calls, once a month maybe)

As far as the hand signals go, I can dance around shrug my shoulders and stuff already. The hand signals I was origionally taught are somewhat outdated and may be part of the problem (arm up and then down motion for "down", arm at right angle for "sit") I think they are not as clear as some newer ones (like arm straight up for the down for example) I am seriously considering making a switch of hand signals sometime this summer.

Anyhoo, the anticipation is not all the time, just enough to be less than perfect! I guess I already know I have to move back a few steps(figuratively not litteraly) and start proofing, and clearly making this the goal of short individual training sessions.

Love trying to figure out ways to get around training problems! That is what makes dog handling fun IMO, cure one issue, another one will arise to keep you thinking!!! Thanks so much for your reply.