Hey folks! I need some training tips for a problem I’m having. My dog will come to me straight and sit in front of me with the dumbbell, but she doesn’t sit tight up against me. She comes in then when she sits back she ends up 8 to 12 inches away. Any suggestions.

Does she sit up close without the dumb bell?

i've been trying to train her with treats to get closer. so no she doesn't. if i have the treat down low and call her in she'll sit in close for the treat. so am i on the right track as far training for it? or does any body have a better training method.

Have you tried spitting food at her? If you haven't, it may take awhile for her to get used to the idea, so you may have to physically move her closer to you before you spit. This also helps create a nice picture of the dog looking straight in your face.

You're on the right track in teaching the dog to "front" close to you before you require it with the dumbell.

I would take a hot dog link have the dog continously feed on it until you manipulate him in the front position. Once in the front position stop feeding for a split second and then feed again before the dog thinks about moving. You've got to stabalize the dog in the front position and unless the dog thinks there is potential for reward in the front position then he will get frustrated and move back to his habitual position or just try to offer another behavior.

I would do many reps where you would lure him to the front and stabilze his position by feeding, stop feeding, and feed again, over and over, rewarding so long as the dog remains in position. If he breaks or moves, start over.

Then use just your hands as a signal to bring the dog into position and feed immediately when the dog reaches front position. Once you've mastered that, say your word "Heir" or "Come" BEFORE you give the hand signal. And start fading the hand signal where your more and more subtle about it until there is no signal.


I know this might sound a little condensed but if you need more detail say so.

If you are using food then I would work it this way. To get your dog comfortable with being in tight practice fronts while sitting in a chair and (out on the edge)and have the dog come all the way in tight between your legs, touch the dog on both sides of its body with your legs as you treat it.Then practice calling your dog while you are in the chair and the dog should come in tight between your legs. When you move on to recalls without the chair,just kind of bend a little at the knees and try and get the dog to come on in tight for the treat, touch the dogs on the sides of its body with your legs and treat.

I've been doing like Renee pointed out, dropping bits of hotdog from my mouth, & it's been working better than any other way. He's no longer looking at my pockets or my hands, only my face. I wouldn't spit them out though; I would just let them drop straight down, so that he learns to come in close, all on his own. In the beginning, he might miss them as they drop(like mine did), because he sat too far away from me, but he learned quick that if he's going to catch them, he has to be in position. I wouldn't feed him for a whole day before doing this.

Spitting hotdogs is the simplest way but it doesnt always make for a close sit front.In problem solving for a close sit front it usually takes a combination of things to get the dog to sit close and straight.

Another thing that helps is to bend the knees so the dogs head is past the vertical plane of the shins when getting the treat. This way when you stand up straight, the dog is close and looking straight up.

thanx everybody i'll put this to work and let you know how it works. it's a good thing for this board and the tapes. i don't have a club that's under an hour away. and with my work schedule it's impossible to travel all that way. thanx again and i hope every body had a good holiday.