How Can I Speed Up Cindy's Drops

[Sue & Waldo]

I did a CCD practice today. Cindy did a perfect recall, sit stay, drop stay and SFE.

Here is her problem. Her heeling is good-good position etc. She is just slow to drop and will never pass. She sits and folds her legs under her body as she l---o---w---e---r---s herself to the ground. She will never pass like this! I have been luring her with food but it doesn't make any difference.

Any clues?

[The Spotted Devil]

Firstly, I'd get her looked over by a good Bowen practitioner - it's amazing what a difference it can make and I take Zig about every 3 months.

Once you know she is feeling brilliant physically, stop luring her with food as you are just reinforcing her current behaviour. See - it's mostly us that stuffs 'em up, you know Build her enthusiasm by playing the two food game and then start playing "speed drops". Basically just have her free running and you call "drop", then click and treat the second she hits the ground. Then stop rewarding the slower drops and only reward the faster drops - you need to build value for dropping to the ground fast. It's great preparation for the drop on recall in Open too Make sure you are using clear, consistent signals too - so easy to make that mistake!!!

[TerraNik]

I play my dogs off each other, too... We do drop/sit/stand races

[Tassie]

So, sounds like she was taught drop from a sit?

I'd be teaching the fold-back drop - where dog drops the front legs first. If you're luring this one, the food goes between the dog's front legs - slowly - you may need to mark and reward elbows on the ground as a halfway stage. but fairly quickly withhold the reward until the but drops - then mark that and reward heavily. Try to lose the lure asap, but keep the hand signal, and the mark reward.

Sometimes when you're teaching this, the dog will back up - try it in a corner, so the dog can't back up.

I find it easier to teach this one from the front, but once the dog is doing it reliably, you can put it to the side. I't s nice one, since the dog drops from the actual position, without coming forward.

And agree with the two food speed drop game. Lots of fuin - gets great focus from the dog - and gets ready for drop on recall.

[Sue & Waldo]

Another newbie question-what is the 2 food game.

I have not taught her to drop from a sit. If she is in a stand she sits then drops.

Cindy is brilliant on the drop in a recall which leads me to another observation. She is only doing this on lead. She is great at change of position. I fine it frustrating because she does a stay with handler out of sight too.

I appreciate the advice thus far.

I will be seeing a brilliant trainer tomorrow so we will see...