From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Follow-up to puppy training
Date: 15 Dec 92 22:26:35 GMT
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
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: He comes when called, on or off the lease, inside or out
: and from a long way away. And someone said that making a 
: young dog stay for too long was not good, my pup will
: stay for over 3 minutes! and then come running when called. 

I train both wait and stay.  The problem that I often see with the stay is
that people don't enforce it.  Then when they need it, the dog doesn't
really know what stay means.  I like to have an option, if I just want the
dog to remain in place but not in position.  Long stays are not a problem,
as long as the pup has the attention span built up and you have a way to
correct mistakes.  But when you're in a stall with a horse, as I was, the
last thing you need is to have to correct a pup's stay as the yearling
colt has acted up.  Gaia was doing long, out of sight stays, both sit and
down, before 6 months of age.  

: I usually do 2 lessons a day, about 5 or 10 minutes in the
: morning, and then 15 or 20 minutes in the evening. If he 
: seems to be getting bored we play fetch in the middle of the
: lesson and work some commands into it to keep his interest.

Sounds really good!

: I'm also very careful not to punish for something he may not
: really "know" (like heal or lay down). 

: I'm following the training guidelines of Wolters, he wrote
: a number of books back in the mid 60's! I've also read 
: a number of newer books but my pup (and my previous dog)
: both seem to do better with this method. 

: Now that I've told you how good my pup is, I'll add to it
: a little problem I'm having. The first is lay down. He doesn't
: seem to be getting this very well (yes, I know he's young). I've
: tried all the methods I've read about with no luck. Every time
: I gently pull his front legs out and set him down he thinks
: I'm playing and then starts rolling around! Any ideas?

Use a treat to help him learn.  Have him sitting, and as you tell him down,
bring the treat down in front of him.  It should be in front enough that
he has to stretch, but not so far that he wants to get up.  When he is
down, give it to him in between his front legs.  If you don't want to use
food, see if he'll follow just your hand.  These methods also set up the
beginning of a hand signal for the excercise.

: Also, as he gets a little older he is starting to get more
: independent and doesn't always come running when called, he'd
: rather stay outside and do all those important things puppies
: do! He will always come but sometimes I have to tell him a 
: few times (and sometimes in the house he just wanders over to
: me sort of slowly). 

Make sure that if he doesn't come you go get him.  If he does come, even
if it is slowly, make a big deal over him.  Any punishment in this area
should be brought to him, otherwise you are training him not to come.

Try using a long light weight leash or rope.  Go out and wander around.
Everyonce in a while, when he is paying attention to something else, call
him.  With the long leash, you have a way to enforce the command.  You
want the leash light so that he reallyn isn't aware of it.  If he starts
to catch on, use his leash and the light long one.  When you unclip your
leash he'll probably think that he's free.  Always be up and happy, and
make a big deal of him when he comes to you.  Your puppy should think that
coming when you call him is a really great thing.

 : I realize my problems are trival, especially for such a
young : dog, but any suggestions would be helpful (and please don't
: flame me to much for my methods, they seem to work and have 
: worked well for a number of my fathers dogs as well). 

What's to flame?  You are letting the dog learn what it is that you want,
you're using frequent, short sessions, and you are keeping it fun.  

Karen
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs