Teaching Drop

[Michelleva]

I've just started trying to teach Georgia to drop. She'll sit and be focussed and I bring the treat down to ground level, but she stands up and then tries to get the treat. I know she doesn't understand what I'm asking of her yet, but am I doing it right or is there a better way. If anyone knows of a good web link that shows how to do it the right way, that would be great.

We've started obedience but haven't started to learn it yet. Since I can't go this week, I thought I'd try on my own, but so far it hasn't been very successful.

Thanks heaps,

Michelle

[alpha bet]

You may be trying too hard. Break it down for the dog so that you can make it easy steps. Remember the drop is easy to teach provided the dog is relaxed.

Technique to try.

First reward the dog in a sit position, then get her to focus on your hand and slowly lower your hand with the treat. When you are halfway down stop and give her a chance to adjust her body slightly if she is hesitant then even reward her just lowering her head. If she seems relaxed and focused on your hand then lower to the floor and she may well break at the elbow and lower into the drop and then reward that.

If she brings her bottom up just stop and ask her to sit again - keep your energy very low and calm.

Repeat the above every time until dog seems really comfortable before you speed things up. Remember it is more important to build her confidence in the excercise than trying to move on too soon.

[Tiggy]

If you're going to trial in obedience don't have her sit first, have her drop from a stand .

[Michelleva]

That makes sense Alpha Bet, and I think you're right I proably have been trying too hard. I won't try anymore tonight, I'll have another go tomorrow after our walk.

[Cleo's Corgwyn]

Two other things to try, if you're luring; make sure when you lure down from a stand, that you move the treat back towards the dogs paws. If you're still having trouble getting them into position, try luring them under a bent knee as you sit on the ground (ie you sit, with your legs bent slightly in front of you, and lure the dog under your bent knee)

[Michelleva]

If you're going to trial in obedience don't have her sit first, have her drop from a stand .

I have no idea how far we'll go with the obedience. We only started a month ago, and while we both enjoy it we will keep doing it. My first priority is a well behaved pup, anything after that is a bonus. But so far I love it and so does Georgia.

[matilda1]

some good advice here that I will try myself.

I have a ACD puppy and she drops with great enthusiasm, but I need to slow it down as she literally THROWS herself on the floor.

[Michelleva]

I just came back from a walk with Georgia and just had to fill you all in before I go out again.

About half way through the walk I decided to stop and do a bit of training. So I got her to sit, then said drop and got her half way and treated her, I repeated that once, then went all the way down. She did it three times in a row. And just to prove to myself that it wasn't a fluke I got her to do it again once we got home, she did a perfect drop. Woo Hoo

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Now one more question, she heels very well for me except is she sees/hears something exciting, which is usually kids playing, another dog or anything else she'd like to get closer too. Then she'll start pulling. At the moment the second she starts pulling on the lead I stop and wait till she returns to the heel position and sits before we move again.

Am I doing it right, I don't think the sit is really necessary, I'm just trying to get her to stop focussing on whatever is exciting to her and focus back on me. She's 5 months old.

[Tiggy]

If you think maybe you would like to trial you're better off teaching her to drop correctly from the start which is the fold back drop from the stand. I also taught a casual lie down. Also make sure you aren't saying drop as a cue before she understands the command.

Edited June 5, 2010 by tiggystaff

[luvsdogs]

She doesn't have to heel all the time while out walking. As long as she's walking on a loose lead, that's all you want. Put only a few steps of heel into your walk now & again, a walk should be enjoyable for her & not all presision heeling. For loose lead walking us a command such as 'let's go'.

[Michelleva]

Luvs dogs, thanks for replying. I don't mean she has to be at heel 100% of the time, but how do I treat it when she starts pulling on the lead. At the moment I just stop and wait till she calms down and then keep going. I just wanted to know if thats the right way to handle the pulling. She only pulls when she sees or hears something exciting.

[luvsdogs]

There are a few ways to go, like you are doing, as the chief instructor at my club says, you won't get to the post office before it closes. Another way is to take a few steps backwards before she hits the end of the lead, idea being she will figure if she wants to go forward she won't pull. If she's pulling you to something or someone you don't want her to get to, turn around & walk briskley in the opposite direction, don't yank on the collar, just start moving. I've been doing the stop/start method with my dog for 2 years, every so often I have to remind her not to pull, but I don't get dragged down the street.

Another method by kikopup.

[aussielover]

If you think maybe you would like to trial you're better off teaching her to drop correctly from the start which is the fold back drop from the stand. I also taught a casual lie down. Also make sure you aren't saying drop as a cue before she understands the command.

What is a "fold back drop from stand" ?

I'm teaching my puppy to drop from a stand- she is a labrador so she just flops to the ground with no trouble at all! Her front feet go down first and then her bum, its very cute!

I made the mistake of teaching my other dog to drop from sit and she never seemed to get it 100%

[Tiggy]

If you think maybe you would like to trial you're better off teaching her to drop correctly from the start which is the fold back drop from the stand. I also taught a casual lie down. Also make sure you aren't saying drop as a cue before she understands the command.

What is a "fold back drop from stand" ?

I'm teaching my puppy to drop from a stand- she is a labrador so she just flops to the ground with no trouble at all! Her front feet go down first and then her bum, its very cute!

I made the mistake of teaching my other dog to drop from sit and she never seemed to get it 100%

For obedience trials the dog must fold back into a drop rather than come forward into a drop if you get what I mean :rolleyes:

[alpha bet]

Work on the heeling - as with your drop - perhaps you are trying too hard or expecting too much - Develop a good loose lead walk as a priority make sure your pup understands to give to pressure. It is quite normal for the pup to forget when there are distractions.

Be persistant and quiet and you can succeed. Sounds like you are using a good method and just need more time to develop. Your pup is only 5 months which is very young there is plenty of time. Once a dog has built confidence in the walking you will notice that distractions mean less and pup will start watching you more and more.

If you do decide to do obedience competition later on you can always tidy up any excercises but as you said the priority is to have a well mannered dog.

Good luck.

p.s. I like to start pups off with a drop from a sit because it tends to be easier for most breeds - Oncer they are used to the excercise and know the command they will drop from a stand.

However, as an extra fun thing, I use a version of the fold back drop to teach pups to bow - the difference is I stand in front of the dog with the dog in a stand and lure the head down to between their front legs - then quickly release the dog forward - this is the first step to achieving a Bow - great fun and good trick to show off to your friends.

[Michelleva]

Thanks alpha bet, I like the idea of the bow. I'll make that the next thing we can do together. She's smart and picks things up pretty quickly, as long as I teach them the right way.

[voloclydes]

i can quite get what you guys mean does some one have a link for a video?

i do sit >drop and beg >drop...no we're not doing trailing but would like to some time in the future.