Manually Moving Dog Into Drop Position

[megan_]

I have trained my boy to have a rock solid sit - he won't move for food unless I give him a release word. We've started at a new obedience school (last one closed down) which uses food luring to get them into place. The problem is my boy doesn't follow the food - after all, trying to eat food without me releasing him from sit is "bad".

This makes it impossible to get him into the drop position. At my old obedience school they taught us a way to manipulate the dog into a drop (from a stand, something about having one finder under his collar and one had between his shoulder blade) and I then pushed down and his dropped.

I can't remember how to do it exactly though and I don't want to hurt him - does anyone know know to do it properly (my current trainer just pushed his bum down, it didn't work properly and it looked like a really awkward position for him)?

Thanks,

Megan

[4 Paws]

why not train the drop for a stand instead

I had a problem with my foxie training the drop till I strted using the under the bridge method rather than luring down with food.

[Erny]

Try luring to the "sit" position without using any command. The sit is a know/easy position for him as he already is well used to it by the sounds. Once he gets the hang of the fact that when he follows your hand to that position you'll release the food to him, then it might assist with him understanding about following your hand to the drop.

I wouldn't use any command until you get this going (in the lure). Intro the command once he has the idea.

If that still isn't getting anywhere, you could try simply teaching him to target onto your hand. And then re-introduce the 'luring' component.

That's not to say I disagree with the "Guide, show, place" method either. I like dogs to be able to respond off both methods. But particularly for the "drop" I would not recommend you try working it without supervision if you are not certain, not because you won't be able to do it .... you might. But if you place your hands in the wrong position and use too much pressure with the wrong hand, and/or not have him properly 'set up' to be able to manage the position comfortably, you risk causing him discomfort/hurting him. Which is not going to be good for him and even less so from the training perspective.

[megan_]

why not train the drop for a stand instead

I had a problem with my foxie training the drop till I strted using the under the bridge method rather than luring down with food.

thanks - what do you mean by "under the bridge" method?

[4 Paws]

why not train the drop for a stand instead

I had a problem with my foxie training the drop till I strted using the under the bridge method rather than luring down with food.

thanks - what do you mean by "under the bridge" method?

Easiest way is to teach them they must drop their head and elbows to the ground and this is easiest to do if they have something to crawl under.You go down on the floor on one knee and extend the other leg with a bend in it to form an arch.If it's small dog you can actually sit on the ground with one leg bent(better on your knees)You can adjust your bent leg to the dogs needs

Show dog a piece of food in the palm of your right hand,once he is interested move it to the right side of your leg so he must go under your leg to move toward the food(not luring but show he the food and ask what he will need to do to get it?)

Once he is under with elbows on the ground give him the food.You can than start getting duration by using more food out in front,when he does not move bring food back to him,if he moves towards food push food back under his front legs and try again

[Tassie]

Agree with training the drop from a stand, especially for the dog with a rock solid sit. You can do it as 4 paws describes, but with most dogs, you can get it luring from the front. Use a fairly large, lickable piece of food, hold between your fingers so the dog can lick it but not grab it. With dog in stand, move your hand slowly back between the dog's front paws and down towards the ground - slowly so the dog has the chance to be licking all the way. Watch for the elbows bending - you may want to reward this a time or two to show the dog he's on the right track. Then withhold the reward until the butt goes down as well.

Problems - dog is likely to back up - remedies - try it in a corner so he can't back up very far. And/or just close your hand over the food, and then allow the dog to take a step or two back into the stand and strt again.

When the dog does hit the down, I like to drop a piece or two of food in between his paws to reinforce hte position, while I'm standing.

You can turn this to the side once the dog gets it - food in left hand, hand with palm to dog - do the same nack and down action. This will ultimately become your signal.

The foldback down from stand is a really nice one, especially for both heeling, and for change of position exercises, since there will be no forward movement from the stand.

And can you tell - I like to teach without putting my hands on the dog.