Teach Your Dog To Sit, Drop and Recall

THE SIT, DROP or DOWN : advantage of the drop:
watching television
eating dinner
visitors
driving
meeting children & the elderly

PROCESS
*This command is best taught from the SIT position to begin with.
*Its best to stick with one word: DROP or DOWN.
*As with all commands, it is recommended that you keep your words short so
your dog can understand immediately what you mean.
*Get your dogs attention and put him in the SIT.
*Put your treat in your hand and this time have your palm facing downward.
*Let him know the treat is there.
*Start by slowly lowering your hand to the ground(still with your palm facing down
and close to the dogs chest).
*His nose should follow.
*Always take the treat straight down(not forward & away from the dog. If you do
that, he’ll get up & follow the treat)
*When his front legs are on the ground :say YES.
*Repeat this sequence several times until hes comfortable in this position.
*REMEMBER to reward & praise every time.

Now you may introduce the VERBAL COMMAND “DROP or DOWN” as you did with the SIT
1.just as his body touches the floor
2.then about half way down to the floor
3.then just as he starts to lower himself
4.then finally before he begins
Gradually you can stop bending down to the floor with him. In no time at all you’ll be standing up tall and giving the command 🙂

*After your dog understands :remove treat & replace with only hand signal & voice cue.

*REMEMBER to only say commands ONCE (you’re teaching your dog to listen
to you the first time).

NOW:  try to extend the time before rewarding (after 3 seconds, then 5 then 10) Always remember to say YES so he knows the rewards coming.

NOW try RANDOM REWARDS: (rewarding every 2nd or 3rd time)
After the first successful DROP, move somewhere else, ask for another and then reward.
After a week or two you may start PROOFING.
REMEMBER, you’re teaching your dog to DROP wherever you are, not just at class, not just in the living room, but everywhere!

PROBLEM SOLVING
*If you’re lucky, your dog will drop or lie down. More likely, however, he’ll just sit there with his head on the ground sniffing the treat. If he does this: put the hand with the treat
in it flat on the floor and wait. *Eventually it’ll be easier for him to lie down to try and get the treat….and at that point say “YES” & give him the treat.

HARDER SCENARIOS:
Just take a treat and wait (same as the SIT) to see if he does it.
(this is called offering): he may do the SIT first, before offering you the DROP.

THE RECALL
The good news is that by having already taught your dog the watch me exercise (ie Name Recognition) you’re already on your way to having a dog that comes back every time you call him.
If you teach your dog nothing else, this is the one thing you must spend time on! It can quite literally save his life.

PROCESS
*say the dogs name so he looks at you.
*show him the treat and as he’s coming say “COME” or “HERE”.
*You’re teaching him that “COME” means “COME TO ME & YOU’LL GET GOOD
STUFF”.
*when he gets to you, slip your finger into his collar, say YES and give him the
treat.
*repeat frequently – in fact during tv commercials can be ideal, as dogs learn best
if you repeat exercises little & often.

Leah & Angela OMeara (www.houndogdaycare.com.au)
Specialists in Dog Daycare Brisbane and Pet sitting Dog Minding Brisbane)