Teaching commands - YorkieTalk.com Forums

avidscrapbooker · 06-23-2006, 01:12 PM

I want to teach my 5 and 6yr old furkids commands.
I will first start with sit, then down, and then come, then rollover.
BUT how do you teach them? When I put my hand and gently push down on Scrappy's rear while saying 'sit', he does everything he can with his back hind legs to NOT sit down. HELP... I have no idea where to start.

jencar98 · 06-23-2006, 01:23 PM

Are you using treats? Our trainer at petsmart says to hold the treat just above their head (make certain they see the treat) this is to effectively make them sit. Then when their bottom hits the ground, only then to say"sit", as you give the treat followed w/good dog (boy/girl). She alos said to not put your hand on their rear to force a sit. I've seen it work w/larger breeds very well, but so far Ruby is not a treat hound, which is making it tougher, but I'm hoping with work she will get it

I'm sure others out there have different methods, maybe one that will work better than this?

Carolina girl · 06-23-2006, 01:34 PM

You have to find the treat that they will die for. It may have to be steak but it won't have to be used after they learn, But in order to get them to learn they have to love it....

jencar98 · 06-23-2006, 02:13 PM

We had just started on "sit" last week at school and will continue tomorrow. My husband make just get lucky and have steak for dinner. Ha ha

avidscrapbooker · 06-23-2006, 02:19 PM

Well I tried the 'hold the treat above their head and wait till they sit to say "sit" thing... but it didn't work. I'm using Golden Grahams, my other dog loves it, and it's working for him. I haven't gone to the pet store for real doggie treats yet. Any other suggestions other than patience?

JRosal · 06-23-2006, 02:27 PM

try this site...it worked for me

http://www.getapuppy.com/potty%20training.html
scroll to the bottom for the Andrea Arden brochure with photos

http://petcaretips.net/dog_training.html

Hickey007 · 06-23-2006, 02:35 PM

We were told instead of pushing down on their behind to push against their legs. Imagine kinda karate chopping their back legs right where they bend. Now obviously don't do it hard just lightly cup their bum and use the side of your hand to push against their back legs to get them to bend. It has always worked for us. Actually she said especially with large dogs pushing down on them can hurt their hips, in the case of a large dog use your forearm instead of hand.

chewysmommy · 06-25-2006, 09:45 AM

I took Chewy to puppy classes - 4 classes once a week. In those classes I learned the same thing about pushing down his/her bum - DON'T DO IT! It is so bad and so sad to do that to dogs....it really can damage them. Breaks my

to see owners do that. Chewy now sits really good on comand. Took lots of time, lots of treats and lots of love. One of his fav's is Zuke's Mini Naturals Chicken - they're just his size treats and they moist. Sometimes I even break them in thirds for training.

ShamRocker · 06-25-2006, 10:26 AM

try this website,
this helped me with my yorkie.

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/dogtricks/main.html

AprilLove · 06-26-2006, 03:08 PM

Have you tried Clicker Training? I have had 4 dogs AprilLove is my first one I have trained with this method. I love it! Works much quiker than voice and hand signals only. She is one week shy of six months now and she knows down, sit, stay, spin, come. rollover, shake, up and dance (on her hind legs!)
You still need patience and repetition, but man it is so worth it. They just love to please and are eager to learn! I only spend 5 minutes a day with her on commands and we are starting to use voice only.
Here is a link for you to check it out
http://www.clickertraining.com/home/?source=wn

MaryKay
AprilLoves' Mommy

JeanieK · 06-26-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avidscrapbooker

Well I tried the 'hold the treat above their head and wait till they sit to say "sit" thing... but it didn't work. I'm using Golden Grahams, my other dog loves it, and it's working for him. I haven't gone to the pet store for real doggie treats yet. Any other suggestions other than patience?

You hold the treat just above their nose and move the treat backwards, they will sit to see it. You muight have to back them into a wall if they just keep backing up. It worked well for mine.

Then for down, you show them the treat and move your hand down to the floor.

It just takes practice for both you and the dog.

Elisandra · 06-28-2006, 12:01 PM

Before i read this thread my boyfriend and i started training my Rocky with rice and we did the push the little hinney down and it worked i mean we didnt push him down forced we just pushed it softly and now he sits.

Also when we are on the sofa he puts his little front paws on the side of the sofa and we tell him DOWN DOWN and he get's down

Jaxon's mom · 06-28-2006, 12:41 PM

I think you need to work on training a little bit every day. They seem to lose interest quick so only train for about 5 minutes, but make sure it's every day. Eventually they'll get the hang of it.

I did obedience class with Jaxon and was ready to give up. For graduation, we had to do all the commands in front of the class and he was perfect! Really surprised me - I think it just needed to be on his terms.

06-23-2006, 01:12 PM	#1
avidscrapbooker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 96	Teaching commands I want to teach my 5 and 6yr old furkids commands. I will first start with sit, then down, and then come, then rollover. BUT how do you teach them? When I put my hand and gently push down on Scrappy's rear while saying 'sit', he does everything he can with his back hind legs to NOT sit down. HELP... I have no idea where to start. __________________ Lorin!

06-23-2006, 01:34 PM	#3
Carolina girl YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 320	You have to find the treat that they will die for. It may have to be steak but it won't have to be used after they learn, But in order to get them to learn they have to love it.... __________________ Love is... when your puppy licks your face even though you left him alone all day! Izzabella and Cindy

06-23-2006, 02:19 PM	#5
avidscrapbooker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 96	Well I tried the 'hold the treat above their head and wait till they sit to say "sit" thing... but it didn't work. I'm using Golden Grahams, my other dog loves it, and it's working for him. I haven't gone to the pet store for real doggie treats yet. Any other suggestions other than patience? __________________ Lorin!

06-23-2006, 02:27 PM	#6
JRosal YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Marcos Posts: 318	try this site...it worked for me http://www.getapuppy.com/potty%20training.html scroll to the bottom for the Andrea Arden brochure with photos http://petcaretips.net/dog_training.html __________________ Zoe's dogster: http://www.dogster.com/?334776

06-23-2006, 02:35 PM	#7
Hickey007 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 789	We were told instead of pushing down on their behind to push against their legs. Imagine kinda karate chopping their back legs right where they bend. Now obviously don't do it hard just lightly cup their bum and use the side of your hand to push against their back legs to get them to bend. It has always worked for us. Actually she said especially with large dogs pushing down on them can hurt their hips, in the case of a large dog use your forearm instead of hand. __________________ Courtney

06-23-2006, 01:23 PM	#2
jencar98 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,708	Are you using treats? Our trainer at petsmart says to hold the treat just above their head (make certain they see the treat) this is to effectively make them sit. Then when their bottom hits the ground, only then to say"sit", as you give the treat followed w/good dog (boy/girl). She alos said to not put your hand on their rear to force a sit. I've seen it work w/larger breeds very well, but so far Ruby is not a treat hound, which is making it tougher, but I'm hoping with work she will get it I'm sure others out there have different methods, maybe one that will work better than this?

06-23-2006, 02:13 PM	#4
jencar98 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,708	We had just started on "sit" last week at school and will continue tomorrow. My husband make just get lucky and have steak for dinner. Ha ha

06-25-2006, 09:45 AM	#8
chewysmommy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 47	I took Chewy to puppy classes - 4 classes once a week. In those classes I learned the same thing about pushing down his/her bum - DON'T DO IT! It is so bad and so sad to do that to dogs....it really can damage them. Breaks my to see owners do that. Chewy now sits really good on comand. Took lots of time, lots of treats and lots of love. One of his fav's is Zuke's Mini Naturals Chicken - they're just his size treats and they moist. Sometimes I even break them in thirds for training. __________________ _____________________________________________ http://www.dogster.com/?334233 "Chewy is my name, luvin' is my game!"

06-25-2006, 10:26 AM	#9
ShamRocker Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere Posts: 27	try this website, this helped me with my yorkie. http://www.angelfire.com/on2/dogtricks/main.html __________________ I love Tugger!

06-26-2006, 03:08 PM	#10
AprilLove My Three Hearts Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wrapped around their paws :-) Posts: 5,197	Have you tried Clicker Training? I have had 4 dogs AprilLove is my first one I have trained with this method. I love it! Works much quiker than voice and hand signals only. She is one week shy of six months now and she knows down, sit, stay, spin, come. rollover, shake, up and dance (on her hind legs!) You still need patience and repetition, but man it is so worth it. They just love to please and are eager to learn! I only spend 5 minutes a day with her on commands and we are starting to use voice only. Here is a link for you to check it out http://www.clickertraining.com/home/?source=wn MaryKay AprilLoves' Mommy

06-28-2006, 12:01 PM	#12
Elisandra Rocky's Slave 4 ever Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 1,588	Before i read this thread my boyfriend and i started training my Rocky with rice and we did the push the little hinney down and it worked i mean we didnt push him down forced we just pushed it softly and now he sits. Also when we are on the sofa he puts his little front paws on the side of the sofa and we tell him DOWN DOWN and he get's down

06-28-2006, 12:41 PM	#13
Jaxon's mom Love my handsome boys Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Windham, NH Posts: 1,821	I think you need to work on training a little bit every day. They seem to lose interest quick so only train for about 5 minutes, but make sure it's every day. Eventually they'll get the hang of it. I did obedience class with Jaxon and was ready to give up. For graduation, we had to do all the commands in front of the class and he was perfect! Really surprised me - I think it just needed to be on his terms. __________________ Andrea , Jaxon & Andrew