Hello, I'd like some advice on how to correct what my 7month old is doing on his sit command.

Him and I have been very successful with marker training and rewarding with a treat on his sit command, he picked it up in a relatively short amount of time. Marker training is a great way to train!!

The problem now is that he will only sit when he is close to me OR if he's a few feet away (8-10), he will come to me then sit. I'd like to be able to have him sit from longer distances, rather than me ordering the sit command from across the room and he 'comes' to me before sitting.

I'd just like to know how to correct this??

What I've been doing lately is giving the sit command and slowly taking a couple steps backwards saying stay - stay - stay, until I release him. Will this work, or should I approach another way?

Thanks for your help!!

Chuck

I would not say stay etc. Just make him sit and take a step back, mark and go to him and reward while sitting. Make him sit, take two steps back, mark and go to him and reward while in sit. He should understand that he does not need to be close to you to get rewarded. That is the way to teach him, in my opinion.

You might try tethering him to a tree or piece of furniture and walk a short distance away, give the command, mark and go reward. Then move farther and farther away, but not all in one lesson. Like any new behavior, keep the sessions short and upbeat. In his mind, "sit" is what he does near you, so he might be a bit confused at first. Having him tethered will prevent him from being able to get to you and should help get the idea across more quickly that regardless of where you are, "sit means sit". Keep us posted on the progress!

Both of these are great ideas! Thank you, and I will keep you posted.

Chuck

If you aren't already doing so (and are interested) you might introduce a hand gesture as you teach sit. Then, once you dog knows how, you'll be able to give command gestures from across the room (or across a field, even) without having to shout a voice command.

What BarbAra said about tethering him and giving the command.
Your not trying for distance OR time on this. Add time and distance separately as the dog progresses.
Although giving a stay command is done in AKC obedience it isn't in Schutzhund. My preference is to "not" give it. When I give a command, sit, down, whatever, that's what I expect the dog to do until I give another command. Same with "stay". Say it once and expect it.
Depending on your methods of training, loss of reward OR a correction for non compliance.
Your using markers, Great! Don't mark until the dog performs the behavior.
Don't o for any distance commands until your very sure the dog will comply correctly from right in front of you.
RANDOMLY return before you give the marker. RANDOMLY add time but not at the same time you RANDOMLY add distance.
Don't fall into a pattern when training ANY behavior. The dogs are much more aware of our habits then we are.

Forgot to add that when you say "stay, stay, stay, until I release him" it wont be long before the dog starts releasing himself when you stop saying "stay". That's what your building to with the "stay" repetition.

Thanks Bob, I agree with your take on separating the stay command. I will stop using the stay after sit or down or whatever.

Having the dog sit or down until he is released is exactly what should be done, great point.

good stuff on the randomness, you're right, the dogs pick up quite fast on gestures, tendencies and habits that I unintentionally display when training....must do a better job at that too.

Chuck