Few Questions About Basic Training

[Ravyk]

MIL is down with her dogs. One of her dogs is...well not trained at all. She will sometimes come when called and will sit maybe one out of 10 commands. That is all she knows. She was totally spoilt by her previous owner and was given away because she became a pest. I am doing a little work with her while she is down for the Xmas break.

I'm having a few issues though. Every time I go to praise her with pats, she rolls on to her stomach into a submissive position. How can I rectify this? It makes it difficult to praise her for sitting because as soon as I go to pat her, she rolls over thus her thinking she gets praised for rolling over.

I am also looking for some kind of food treat I can use that is yummy to dogs, but not fattening. The MIL's dogs are both extremely overweight and are constantly being overfed no matter how much she is told that they need to eat less/be exercised more.

[Erny]

Just to start her off, try food treating her simultaneous with saying "good dog" and patting her. Keep the food treat held in a position that encourages her to be in the sit position. When you've done that a few times (basically you are using the lure method to have her not roll over on her back), then do it without. When she rolls over, "ahah", encourage her up and pat her. More often than not it is about timing (ie how quickly you can put a pat in before she rolls over). You could also try doing this whilst on the move. It might be your eye contact that she is responding to. Try averting your gaze as you pat her.

As for treats ..... Roo Jerky is good. And whatever amount of food you give by way of treats, measure that out by reducing the amount she receives in her bowl.

Edited December 26, 2009 by Erny