Teaching Drop

[Sankari]

Can anyone help me to teach Zoe my 2yr Golden Retriever the drop command. I have tried pulling the lead down and pulling her front legs out but it really isnt too effective.

What ways would be easier to teach the drop command?

I adopted Zoe in December and has had no other training other than the classes i have been doing since Feb. She is doing well in other commands, but we are having problems with her drop.

Any suggestions of what ways it can be taught appreciated.

[FionaC]

The way I did it with Morty is to place treat in hand, drop hand in front of dogs face when saying "drop" or "down" and bring hand down to ground slightly forward of his body .... he just folded himself down after it ..... then give the treat and lots of praise .....

sorry meant to add, this is when I'm just standing in front of him without a lead etc ....

if you mean drop command when on lead in heel position then I do a similar thing but standing to his side, bring the hand in front of his nose and to the ground and he drops once again - then gradually you can stop going all the way to the ground as they do it right and eventually (I'm not there yet myself when in the heel position) can just say the word and they go down ....

Morty is quite food orientated so I always start with food rewards for something new or something he doesn't like to do (being a large lanky boy, he doesn't like going into drop much himself but he will do it pretty well if there is a treat involved )

Edited March 29, 2009 by FionaC

[Sankari]

Yes it is on lead with her on my left side I am trying to teach it. She is a fussy dog, but she does like chicken so i'll try that.

[laffi]

I am not a big fan of pushing the dog into the right position.

I would definitely lure it or just mark it with a clicker when they are about to lie down.

[Luke W]

[Sankari]

Thank you LukeW. That video is a huge help.

I dont have a clicker, but is there a particular type which is best.

[gsdog2]

She is a fussy dog, but she does like chicken so i'll try that.

You must own the only "fussy" Golden Retriever on earth.

Mine loves everything (including things that aren't meant to be eaten ) therefore it was very easy to teach him drop using the lure method.

[Sankari]

Thats for sure. She's a very fussy eater very weird dog i tell ya. She is my 4th GR and the other 3 have all been VERY food motivated and reasonably easy to train. Chicken is working for her at the moment so will keep at it with that.

[Luke W]

Thank you LukeW. That video is a huge help.

I dont have a clicker, but is there a particular type which is best.

If you are going to use a clicker - I'd suggest getting a guide to using a clicker as well.

I use an i-Cliker - they are a little quieter than others.

The i-Click

http://www.ozpetshop.com.au/product_info.p...roducts_id/1466

For a louder clicker - the Black Dog ones are popular.

http://www.ozpetshop.com.au/product_info.p...products_id/959

This book by Karen Pryor is pretty ubiquitous:

http://www.ozpetshop.com.au/product_info.p...roducts_id/1820

There's lots of other books and DVDs here:

http://www.ozpetshop.com.au/index.php/cPath/21_32

Cheers.

[Keshwar]

Thank you LukeW. That video is a huge help.

I dont have a clicker, but is there a particular type which is best.

You don't need to use a clicker. Instead of clicking use a marker word - good, yes, yay, etc.

Bear.