shekhina

Thank you for that, looking forward to being able to understand the way you have done it! I wish I had started Daegon on this a long time ago, he's nearly 13 months old now and has only been taught to gait and stand as he is to be shown as soon as I find someone to handle him...so the ground work especially is all very new to him. The obedience club I'm at does have instructors that have trialled dogs, so that's a good start...not sure if my particular instructor has trialled dogs though...and I didn't particularly like what she had to say about "Rockies", yes, she called poor Daegon a Rocky instead of a Rotty The lesson is very mixed up, so a couple of minutes of heeling, then sits, stays, more heeling etc.

CM... When puppy buyers were taught the dominance down it's main purpose in my mind was so that the dog would lie still and be calm for examinations. While my dogs are lying on their side I check their teeth, in between their toes, in their ears and run my hands over their body. The length of time that the dogs have to stay still on the ground was built up over weeks and weeks of daily practice...when they were baby puppies I would release them as soon as they were still and quiet, now I ask for much longer periods of time of them being calm. Makes for simple vet visits and easy claw cutting

Thanks for that Rom, I would also much prefer to not use any kind of force, so I'm glad I've found a way that he is comfortable moving into that position himself. I really think he wasn't doing it before because he just didn't know what I was asking of him...and he wouldn't, he's only ever been taught to gait and stand before. He's doing a damn good job learning so fast!

Daegon dropped...3 times, yay!! I tried it from a stand first and while he started moving backwards once he got his head kinda going under him he didn't want anymore of it, wouldn't drop his front end :D So I tried from sit again and brought the food really close to his chest and once he was close to the ground slowly started bringing it out to the front along the ground...worked a treat Would prefer to have him dropping from a stand though as I think it's required in the grade one testing, drop on the move...I think. Grading is on the 25th of June, but as Daegon has only had 3 lessons of obedience ever I am not expecting a pass

Yup that makes sense, thank you! I have been doing it from a sit because that's how they have us doing it in obedience class...but since I want to go much further with him than grade one I will just teach him from stand straight away. Thanks for the tips everyone, will give them a go and see if Daegon complies

Any news?

I don't understand, I'm sorry sounds like great advice, and I would like to work both of my dogs as high in obedience as they can go, but I can't picture what I'm meant to be doing :D

That would probably be why I've never had a problem with it then! The breeder of my shepherd called it "Dominance Down". It's just having the dog roll on it's side and then my arm goes lightly over the top, dog stays there until I give the release command. Done it since day one with both dogs and both dogs are very calm during it.

Oh my, am I in trouble again? How can I get myself into strife, when I am only trying to help. I meant no insult. Simply it never ceases to amaze me when owners complain of poor responses, when their dog MAY be sore. When my dogs drop (or other command) with any hesitation, I keep an eye on them generally, like a hawk just in case they have suffered ie a muscular injury in their zest for life. Woah, touchy No, you weren't in trouble at all, I appreciate the responses that everyone has given...was just saying that as far as I can tell it's not a painful thing for him to do as he's quite happy to run around as normal and will drop to the floor when he wants to. I'm sorry if you felt I was having a go at you

Why would he have a physical problem he's a happy, healthy dog who runs around the backyard and drops to the floor by himself, he just doesn't like doing it when I want him to I like the idea of bringing it in close to his chest, will try that with him tonight, thank you :D

Thank you for the reply He doesn't seem nervous at all, just doesn't understand. I do move the food very slowly, no difference. I'm trying to get him to drop on grass at obedience training and carpet here at home.

Daegon has just started back at obedience, he's in grade one. He's only been to three obedience lessons in his life but apart from 'drop' and 'stay' he's right up there with the other dogs so I have not bothered to move him back to beginners. Stay I can work on, he's never had to do that before and he's catching on very quickly...but drop is another matter. He wont do it. I think that's mostly because he just doesn't understand what I'm asking him to do, so that's OK. How can I make him understand what I mean? I have tried bringing the food treat down in an 'L' shape which is how I taught Kovu (Kovu is now a VERY fast dropper ) but Daegon just kinda crouches a bit and sniffs at it and when the food gets too far away he's had enough. Should I resort to taking his front legs from under him to move him into the position until he gets the hang of it or is there something else I can try?

I know my dad said even the cat was over $1000, so it's a darn expensive thing to fix. Hope it all goes well tomorrow.

Oh the poor boy Will have my fingers crossed that they're able to have it removed before it ruptures. Same thing happened to one of my parents' cats, had a stone and my parents wouldn't listen to me about something being wrong with the cat...was nearly too late for him. But he's still around and he's getting darn old now

I've just started reading this thread, I'm so sorry for all that you're both going through. I hope there is some good news in those final blood tests

Hope you have some good news for us

Yes, both my two have gotten used to it from day one, not a problem in the world. I will continue using it as well, the way that I have been taught is a gentle reinforcement about who is boss.

I have also always "alpha rolled" my pup Perhaps what I am doing is very different from what people here are saying is so bad. I was taught it by the breeder of my GSD, and the breeder of my Rottweiler also said to use it. It's nothing rough at all, and both dogs are quite happy to roll over while my arm is over them and they wont move until I get up, even if that's 20 minutes or more.

So sorry Kaye, first anniversaries are the hardest

Sorry to hear that Rozzie...hope you get some good news soon :D

Thanks for the update. I hope the little girl improves as she matures a bit more :D

Thanks

OK, thanks for that Sivaro. Might see if they have it in the horseland store and if I can't find it there I'll start asking

I've never heard of Rawleys products before...which one would I be looking for and where would I get it? If it's a gel/cream wouldn't Kovu just lick it off? Depending on how much it is I wont be able to get it till next fortnight, but the vet wants to give it that long before anything else is done anyways, so that'd be good timing

Oh it's been soooo hard not to march over there and give him a piece of my mind (and a kick in the nuts), I am FURIOUS that this has happened to one of my babies The antibiotics have worked really well and it's almost all cleared up, it still smells a little, but nothing like it was before...before it would smell the whole house out and I would be gagging being anywhere near him, I'm sure he knew, he looked so sad The vet wants to see if it will heal on it's own first...not sure what "proud flesh" is sidoney? But if it hasn't started closing up on it's own within 2 weeks then he will need staples in to help it.