Essential Dog Training Online Resources

Dog Training Online can be form or medium for a dog trainer and dog owners/ handlers. Dog Training Online can use the internet to gain advice, reviews, information, methods and techniques. Some information available is the obedience actions of Down, Leaving and recall.

Down

Word of command: "Down". The object of this exercise is to teach the dog to assume a position with all 4 legs touching the ground; it is the essence for control. The aim of this phase of training is to ensure that the dog will drop instantly on command, verbal or signal, even when at distance from the handler.

Introduction of this exercise should commence only when the dog fully understands the sit exercise. Giving the command "down the handler should apply gentle pressure in a downwards direction with his right hand on the lead, at the same time placing his left hand on the dogs withers and gently press down and backwards. If the dog braces his front legs, they can be drawn gently forward. This exercise should be practiced from all stationary positions as well as when the dog is walking to heel.

Leaving the dog

Word of command: "Stay". This exercise, which is a development of the training given in the exercises, sit and down, where the dog has learnt to assume stationary positions, aims to teach the dog to remain in one of these positions when left by the handler. It is important that this training should be extended to conditions when the handler is out of sight of the dog.

Training should commence with the dog on lead in any one of three stationary positions. The command "stay" should be given and the handler should then move slowly away from the dog, stepping off with his/her right leg first, at the same time allowing the lead to pass loosely through his hand. Care must be taken to avoid any pull on the lead. The complete attention of the handler must be focused on the dog, in order to anticipate and check any tendency to move.

Once the dog understands what is required, the lead may be allowed to fall gently on the ground and the distance between the dog and handler gradually increased. No attempt should be made to hurry this exercise. It is far better to succeed in getting the dog to remain for a few seconds at a short distance than to attempt longer times and distances unsuccessfully. It is essential that in practicing leaving the dog, the handler must always return to the dog rather than call the dog to him.

Training on these lines involving the dog in the three stationary positions should be continued until a standard is reached where the dog will remain as directed by the handler for an appreciable time with the handler in sight. The exercise should be then extended to the handler moving out of sight of the dog. In the early stages, the handler must be in a position where he can see the dog but the dog cannot see him. If the dog breaks, the handler must be in a position where he can immediately place the dog back in the precise position he was.

Success in this exercise depends on the complete confidence of the dog that the handler will return. The initial periods out of sight of the dog should be short, and only increased gradually as the confidence of the dog is built up.