Road Sense

[fredbarry]

We have recently adopted a 5yr old Lab who has had some prior training, but could do with some more road sense training.

Overall, he is pretty good with verbal commands, however he had a ACL repair approx 2 yrs ago and seems to be uncomfortable sitting. When I give him the "sit" command he often lays down instead.

I have been reading the posts on road sense and each seems to recommend the use of commands "sit" then "cross".

With the issues with his ACL I dont want to force him to sit if it causes him discomfort, so my question is - would a "stand" or "stop" command work just as well as "sit"?

[Tapferhund]

You can use whatever word or signal you like to teach him to stop and wait before crossing with you...just remember to ALWAYS have a lead on him near any roads.

[Erny]

I train for this differently.

Most people train so that WHEN the dog hears or sees a cue, it will stop at the curb.

I train so that in the absence of a cue, the dog stops at the curb.

Regardless of the position it adopts. Position IMO is irrelevant.

Edited June 1, 2008 by Erny

[squeak]

I train for this differently.

Most people train so that WHEN the dog hears or sees a cue, it will stop at the curb.

I train so that in the absence of a cue, the dog stops at the curb.

Regardless of the position it adopts. Position IMO is irrelevant.

Interesting approach, which makes sense. May I as how you train this?

[Erny]

I build word association first. The cue and then crossing the road.

Then I reverse the order of 'punishment' as would normally be given by those who work the other way around. The dog goes to cross the road in the absence of the cue = punishment.

Or if the dog stops before the road in the absence of the cue = reward.

I am mindful that my own body language needs to be removed as a cue. IOW .... I work up so that I keep walking onto the road, but looking for the dog to stop regardless.

Edited June 1, 2008 by Erny

[fredbarry]

Thanks for the tips!

We have been using "Stop" at every curb we come across and he is now slowing down at each one. Sometimes I dont say "stop" to see what he does and he sometimes stops...progress!

Bit more work to do yet I think, but we are getting there :rolleyes: