 Barked: Wed Jan 2, '13 9:38am PST |
 | |  | | To down on cue.
When I ask her to down, she does it as slow as she can, creeping her front feet out. Sometimes she will even bark or grumble at me before (or instead) of doing it... When she does get down, she is "on edge", her elbows typically are just grazing the floor, and she is not relaxed. She is ready to jump up (and will jump) at any second.
Some background- she's a rescue I got around a year old, Jack Russell/Beagle mix. I have only trained her using positive reinforcement/negative punishment. When I first got her, it took her about 6 weeks into beginning obedience to decide that laying down was "safe". I had to have her up on my bed and lure her into the down on the bed instead of on the floor. She does have that typical terrier edge to her, and strange dogs put her on alert. She loves to work for food, but sometimes it seems like she is overexcited by the treats.
Here's the thing. I have entered her in a Rally League. I thought it was going to be a "Zoom" league, where there are no stops, it's only different heelwork. Unfortunately, it's the standard rally that has some sit and down stays. She can do sit stays no-problem, but down stays she sits up part way through...
Any tips on getting her to calm down a little bit in the downs? I have to be able to have her down and then I need to be able to walk around her. Right now she sits up when I get part of the way around... |  |  | |  |
|
| my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals | [notify] |
1
. I've done one Nosework trial. It was not too much fun! I was pretty frustrated because we didn't do very well (despite taking 6 months of weekly, private classes).
We're still practicing, but the dread is completely gone. He goes right down.