Testing How Well Your Dog Knows Their Commands

[leopuppy04]

I watched a dog DVD last night and it was really interesting

One thing that I found particularly interesting was testing how well our dogs know each command under a set of criteria. Now I've done it before, but I upped the anti this time and tried it on the Mr Leo. I only used a verbal command, no visuals.

A 'yes' meant he complied within 3 seconds and off one command.

I used sit....

next to me.... of course

me a few feet in front - back to the dog... yes

me a few feet behind.... facing dog (dog not facing me)... yes

me sitting down.... facing dog..... yes

me lying dog... yes

me sitting down - back to dog.... a little harder but yes

me looking at kinta saying sit.... yes (from both dogs LOL!)

me out of sight.... yes

Leo in a drop, me lying down..... he came over and licked my face!

LOL! To say the least, I was VERY impressed at how well he knew the command!!!!!!!!

It was fun!

Anyone want to try?!

[Erny]

I do these things with clients in their proofing phases.

It is amazing for them to see how their dogs really have not generalised the otherwise 'known' command, and/or rely on the body language (including facial expression) of the owner. They then often realise how much more work they need on the verbal command in the absence of other unintentional cues they have been inadvertently giving.

[kelpiechick]

We did this with Ian Dunbar at a seminar a few years back and it was a lot of fun.

From memory the back to the dog was the one that caused most people the most trouble. He also had a game where you had a baseball diamond with one activity like this at each 'base' and dog had to perform all correctly to get a 'home run'.

My favourite was the dog remaining in a stay while you skipped around him in a circle and sang 'how much is that doggy in the window'. So much fun to watch everybody and the look on some of the dog's faces was priceless.

Also reminds me of a spin off of Suzanne Clothier's 'Green Eggs & Ham Dog Training'.

[leopuppy04]

yup that's who I was watching last night KC.

He also has a game he plays where dogs are told to sit and everyone else is going to try to make the dog break. the only thing they aren't allowed to do is scare the dog or touch it

[kelpiechick]

He also has a game he plays where dogs are told to sit and everyone else is going to try to make the dog break. the only thing they aren't allowed to do is scare the dog or touch it

Yep- we did that one too as 'Musical Chairs' - the people who missed out on a chair had to make the dog belonging to someone in a chair break to take their chair. Had almost forgotten how much fun that seminar was as it was the first one I ever went to and a while back now - the dog I took turned 14 on Monday. (Seems like yesterday)

BTW great results with Leo

Don't think I'm brave enough to test the kelpies out.

[luvsdogs]

The 1st Dunbar seminar I went to was in 2000. He had a girl lay down with her dog in a drop behind her head with its toes touching her hair. She was to tell the dog to sit. It didn't. That night I tried it on April & she sat. Didn't do it again for a few yrs & she failed.

[jesomil]

Went to a Dunbar seminar years ago with my Rotty and she did it from all positions.

Tried it with my current Rotty and she will only do it from in front and at my side . Oops, I had better keep training.

Such a great exercise though. Shows how well your dog really knows the commands.