obeying commands

[Muffie's Mom]

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

You may find that your Yorkies don't generalize as well as your Setter did. Some dogs have to learn that a command is a command in different locations, with different people, and with different distractions. You're right, though, that you can't really say that your dog has learned that command until he performs it under different circumstances.

I do agree wholeheartedly to NOT give a command unless you are prepared to follow through (good childrearing advice as well!). Don't say "sit" unless you're prepared to push their little hiney down. Unless you're prepared to go get them, don't say "come".

Which raises another good training point and that is: don't repeat your commands. If you say "Sit...sit...SIT!", Fido learns that he doesn't need to obey until he hears the last one.

Very good points - we've just learned them in the training classes the last 5 weeks. We haven't gotten to the "distraction" part yet! lol

[Yorkie Mum]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Here are my two cents worth..... unless the dog is trained to ONLY respond to one person or certain people, then a command is a command and should be obeyed. .

I would prefer my reactive dog not to listen to anyone else but me unless she been given the ok to do so by me.
Her mind was a hard enough time focusing in on one person giving her requests. Which she does well after a lot of time and training.
I'd rather her look always to me first if someone asks her to do something.
I do not care if it looks like she not obeying others.
Others may ask her to do something she is not able to do out of fear and put her in harms way.
She also was been given the right to say Mum I hear your request but I can not do that,I need you to help.
There is a big dog coming or a guy is trying to get in my space, can you deal with it.
Case in point I asked her to down at the vets tonight just as the door opened in walked the vet and a new tec.
She looked at me and lip lick and blinked and backed into me.
The new tec was to much for her and demanding a down would have been a bad thing. She got a click and a treat for asking for help and not going off.
Down was forgotten.
Sometimes making a dog do what is asked is a bad thing.

Joy

[Muffie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Yorkie Mum

I would prefer my reactive dog not to listen to anyone else but me unless she been given the ok to do so by me.
Her mind was a hard enough time focusing in on one person giving her requests. Which she does well after a lot of time and training.
I'd rather her look always to me first if someone asks her to do something.
I do not care if it looks like she not obeying others.
Others may ask her to do something she is not able to do out of fear and put her in harms way.
She also was been given the right to say Mum I hear your request but I can not do that,I need you to help.
There is a big dog coming or a guy is trying to get in my space, can you deal with it.
Case in point I asked her to down at the vets tonight just as the door opened in walked the vet and a new tec.
She looked at me and lip lick and blinked and backed into me.
The new tec was to much for her and demanding a down would have been a bad thing. She got a click and a treat for asking for help and not going off.
Down was forgotten.
Sometimes making a dog do what is asked is a bad thing.

Joy

Good words to go by. I'll keep those in mind.