the "stand" command

quignov · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject: the "stand" command

Hi, I want to teach my girl to "stand". Or in other words, just to stand there, not move, not sit or lie down. She always sits when she is next to me, thus making this command difficult. I can't really figure out how to teach her to just stand there. She won't even stand long enough for me to get the word "stand" out. I'm thinking this might be difficult because we usually teach our dogs to do something but I don't want her to. Confused

so does anybody have any little tricks/tips that might work here?

-Mike

DukesMom · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:21 pm Post subject:

Put your hand under her belly and hold her in the position that you want her to be in and give her the command "stand" and praise or reward her for doing it right. If you want her to get up from and laying or sitting position (I use the command "up") than get a treat and put it in front of her nose and slowly pull it up and away until she comes up to a standing position and than physically position her where you want her and say "stand". If you want her to "stand/stay" than follow that with "stay" (if she knows stay).

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:17 am Post subject:

I bait mine into a stand, usually you'll get some movement initially, but as long as she stands up, praise her and give her a treat, once she understands the principal of stand, well, then start refining. It's usually a very fast one to train. If you physically place them into position, they usually don't make the connection and use you as a crutch. If you can get them to do it on their own, they usually have a much quicker rate of success.

Also, you'll want to teach the wait command. so that she learns to hold the stand. You can teach this in the sit/down/stand positions. use the same command, and start of slowly, and slowly lengthen, and slowly add distance.

quignov · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:28 am Post subject:

thanks much for your comments... I'll try those tonight when I get home from work....

cheers

DukesMom · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:44 am Post subject:

I agree that it's best to get them to do it on their own. BUT if you can't get them to do it on their own than place them in the position you want to get them started. I have found this to be very successful!

peppernaei · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:19 am Post subject:

To add a bit...

If the dog is sitting in heal position on my left, I bait with my right hand by sweeping the food in front of the nose and trying to draw the dog up with out coming forward. I don't mind helping but I don't hold the position instead I use my left hand to sweep the back legs back. I've also been taught to teach it with you sitting in a chair and the dog between your feet at a sit. You then ask and use your feet to life the hind end (but don't hold it for them). These methods focus on only the back feet moving because that's what they want in obedience.

For stand-stay I agree it may be easier to teach sit-stay and down-stay first so that the dog understands stay. For stand-stay I begin by asking for stand but I don't feed the treat until I ask for stay and then move the treat away only as long as my arm can go and for just a second. I then lengthen the time and after I am sure they have that I begin to step away. I find with stay it is more important to go slow and get success than force the issue and have the dog break all the time.

DukesMom · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:28 am Post subject:

I use an open hand "stop sign" for the stay command and it works very well. Duke mastered the stay command in no time and he's brilliant at it. My Pug learned it right along with him. Gracie is going to be a bit of a challenge I think. It's the coolest thing to get my daughters 2 dogs over and have them all sit/stay together....but I must add that my Duke will absolutely not move an inch (even if the other dogs break) and it is awesome! He is the "stay" master!

AmyB · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:30 am Post subject:

Another thing you can do instead of holding her up with your hand is to take your 6 ft leash that is attached to her collar and loop it under her belly and hold her up with that. You will be holding double the leash. If you can't get the visual I'll try and find my battery charger for my camera and take a pic. I can never find that thing. Rolling Eyes

simis · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure how to best put this into words, but I use the command "On 4" and hold my hand parallel to the floor, so that she releases from her current position to sniff at my hand, then makes eye contact like ok - what next? It's a work in progress, but it seems to be going well for us.

NateEaton · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject:

Based on how Lexie and I learned in class...

With her in a sit next to or in front of you, bait her with a handful of treats (letting her sniff and nibble without really feeding her any yet). Then reach over with a toe and tap her on her hind foot (just a touch). She may not get it right away, butr eventually should pop up - ideally with just her hind legs (front legs didn't move). Click (or praise) and treat. For a stay, keep treating for 5-10 seconds then use "Ok" (or a similar release word). After a few days of success, quit baiting - just hold your hand out, tap her foot and then priase/click and treat. You can eventually just use the hand signal or transition to a verbal (to get to the verbal, once the behavior is pretty solid, say "stand" and then two seconds later use the hand signal and/or foot-tap).

DukesMom · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:50 am Post subject:

To teach them to stand from a sitting position I use a treat and put it in front of their nose and very slowly pull up and away as they start to follow it. Then once they are in a standing position I put the treat down below their mouth to keep their head down and butt up and then use the stay command. Hope that makes sense?