Good advice everyone and I will also add that I think people rush their dogs through training. The learning phase is commonly blown through too fast.

Ahh I hate it when I don't come here often enough to respond to each post hahah, that's it! I'm just going to have to get a T1 connection and set up bells when sombody posts.

Ok Pete,
I have a Male GSD, I always praise on success... I started training with food to teach the command like in Ed's tapes and now use intermitent objects and food rewards for a job well done, on a you could get one or not basis, but always praise.

Vince,
That list is going to take me a month to take in.. hahah I will spend many an hour thinking about all that! But great post...

Schnauzergirl,
I will expand on where he is in training for you. He does know what the command is and my problem with the (Puppy finger, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I like that one) is he does this when I command platz at a distance, he will do one of two things. Come to me and platz perfect, or look at me with the finger. Of course your right about not being able to enforce the command, I see that problem, hence the correction question on how I should enforce it.

He will platz, everytime next to me, he will stay down for about 3-5 min next to me while ignoring most distractions, he will stay down for 3-5 min at a 15 ft distance under the same distractions, he just won't go down at at any distance. Should I be using the long line with correction? Or should I be wearing the prong and correct myself? :rolleyes:

cnielsen,
Good point, I follow this rule most of the time, but sometimes I don't have treats with me...I am finding he will work just as well for the ball, and I always have that and I try to use it more then food reward.

Chuck,
This is a very good point, I have been really careful about this and allow my pup to tell me when he is ready for the next phase of training, I'm not a dog reading expert but he is quite clear about training goals, I get the feeling he is actually running the training program and he just needs my help giving the rewards out, cuz he ain't got no pockets. LOL

He is actually a very very smart dog, and he is already better on the field in OBD then a couple dogs in our club that already have titles, and this is with no compulsion yet, the TD keeps asking me how I am doing this, imagine that.. a 15 year vet asking a 1 year greenhorn how it's done.

I thik I covered everything...please keep the good advise coming!

Lonny--

I'm going to take a shot in the dark here. Your male GSD is still quite a ways short of puberty, but it sounds to me like he's seeing how far he can push you already. The platz is, first and foremost, a posture of submission--and you don't have the first male dog that has a problem with that concept.

I'd be sure you stay on top of this and make sure you've got it straightened out BEFORE the hormones start to kick in in a few months, or I think you're going to have real trouble. The "oh, now dad's coming so I'd better down but I'll do it as slowly as possible" is kinda giving you the middle finger.

Also--get food out of the picture from now on (with the platz command). The fun's over. He needs to understand that he is going down because you say he is going down, and that's all there is to it.

Pete Felknor

Pete,

I think your right here, he is going to have some dominace issues later on, I can already see it comming....his whole pedigree on both sids of dogs I have personaly met think they are Da Man/Woman.

This platz problem is the only one so far, and I want to nip it in the bud as you say, can you please tell me, the correct way to correct him for this? I have tried a few correction with the prong, and am not doing it right because I can't get an "Ouch" correction with the prong... Do you pop up or down? It seems the prong was designed for Up only as it does not turn to face down.

I hate to admit I'm stupid but I would rather admit that then risk screwing up my pup, with bad corrections.

Make sure the prong is VERY SNUG and that it's right up behind his ears.

You're right, the prong "corrects upwards" -- but it tightens when force is applied laterally too.

Try this: Stand next to your dog with about six inches of lead in your hands and the prong collar on. Tell him "platz" while you are slowly but surely pull him toward the ground. Believe me, he will get the idea. Once he's down ease up on the pressure a little--but not entirely. Tell him he's a good boy, good platz (very calmly). If he tries getting up you've got a bit of slack in the line and you can pop him one. Don't do it angrily--just firmly. Say "platz" again. When he's down, don't forget the praise. GSDs are smart and he will quickly learn that you are serious about him remaining down until you say he can get up.

Do you have a release command? I like "Okay!" (very happy and bright). After he's stayed down for a minute or so, in the first training session, release him and play.

Let me know how this works.

Pete Felknor

Thanks Pete! Hey Crabtree... feel free to jump in anytime!

One of the things I have found over the years is that by introducing corrections early it makes for lighter required corrections later. The way I do this is by using the flat collar. The corrections are done after the dog knows the command. It can come early (around 4 months) and involves the minimum force required. The othere method I use is to make much of it self corrections by the dogs. This is done by changing directions when heeling, positioning my foot over the leash so that the puppy corrects if they try to break a stay.

This works with basic, non-attention obedience. The real advantage to it is that as you progress through diferent correction collars it can take a lower level of correction on the collar. Since the dog has had experience with light corrections as a pup, it is more sensitive to the correction as an adult. It knows what the correction means and is willing to comply because it always has. This has advantages in that there is more room for escalation if required. It also seems to take less in the way of corrections to get the point across.

The problem with this method is that it isn't going to work well with attention heeling and it is very easy to over correct. If you have little experience with doing corrections I would avoid this so that you don't over correct. The corrections are very light. You also need to follow a correction with a ton of praise and other rewards to reinforce the proper behavior. The correction should not be the focus of the training, but the rewards for proper behavior.

Nice *$!@$*+ thread troops. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Vince, I think your true calling was carpentry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mr. Nails

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lonny,
I'm listening and learning, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
My male GSD is real soft to correct, he corrects himself most times.

The Akita is a different story, She is hard headed at times. She requires a mid level correction at times.
Thanks,

Nice post Rich.