When Bella sits, many times she will start to try to smell around or look at things that are on the ground and behind her. So, she is ducking her head down and around. Also, she will try to readjust her position so that she is facing me. It is funny because she will still be sitting, but I turn around and she has moved! Sneaky...

So, how still should I require her to stay when she is in a sit or down?

i think it depends on the situation.

if you're doing formal obedience, you would want her to hold her down without moving around (or so i hear). if you just want her to hold her down in the house, and it's not so formal, you maybe don't care if she flops over on her side.

luc has learned the commands situationally - he stays in a very formal down or sit when we work outside. in the house, or visiting other people, he's more relaxed (i.e. at my grandpa's retirement home, when i put him in a down, he will flop over a bit after a few minutes, and that's fine).

i'm fine w/luc and him being situational - but i think the best way to teach a distinction (assuming you want one) is to use different commands - maybe 'down' for the informal command, and 'platz' for the formal down.

I allow head movement, and that's about it. They are sneaky and, in a sit, will twist at the waist so they can look totally behind them. I don't mind this, but their butt needs to stay stationary and I'd rather their paws not really move.

It's the same for a Platz. You can move your head but i expect your body to stay. I need to tighten macy's platz (where can I buy a log?!) because she's sloppy, she'll platz on her side and she certainly doesn't tuck at ALL. I'd like to get there. I think Jennifer's idea is a really good one, though.

Ultimately it's up to you. What do YOU think is ok for your dog and what you want to do with her?

I've seen people use a modified version of the "place" command for a casual down/stay. Start "place" on a piece of burlap and slowly fold the burlap until it's the size of a handkerchief, carry it around in your pocket and when you want the dog to go somwhere and chill out but you don't care about posture, drop it on the ground and give the "place" command. I've never done this, but it seemed pretty cool.

 Quote: David Eagle

I need to tighten macy's platz (where can I buy a log?!) because she's sloppy, she'll platz on her side and she certainly doesn't tuck at ALL. I'd like to get there.

you and me both - teagan thinks 'down' means 'flop onto your side' eventually i came to the realization that for my mental health we're going to have to use 'platz' for a sphinx-y formal down and she'll learn that command completely fresh.

Great ideas!! Thanks!

I have thought about using two different sets of commands for different levels of compliance situationally. In fact, I have been doing that with a "walk" for normal walking and a "foos" for a heal with the direct eye contact.

I don't think it is fair to ask the dog to keep perfectly still in informal situations. I feel that when the dog is in formal obediance, I want complete focus on me during the exercise.

The burlap sack is something I will probably invest in! Thanks, David!

I've been wrestling with this as well! Gus can be very sneaky in the down and will look at me as he takes a nice big stretch, and then will start scooching away, commando-style, and look at me as if to say, "it's ok, I'm still down!!!" We need to work on that :-)

I like Jennifer's idea of using 'platz' as the formal down that he can't move around in, because I think teaching a new command for something he already knows but with higher expectations will be better than re-teaching the old command. Timing in the correction if he does anything but move his head will be key here....