[nagdu] Command Warm-ups

[The Pawpower Pack via nagdu]

Hi Kristen, 
I did not review obedience cues with either my border collie or Doberman guides.  They became bored and frustrated, and it did not have any positive outcomes for us.  With Soleil, my new service dog— a lab— we reviewed cues every day before working for months.  Now I do it from time to time.  It does help her get into a working mindset.  The cues we use are 
Sit, down, down and or sit stay, recall, nose targeting, stand, stand stay.  We will soon add paw targeting.  
As for getting your dog out from under things, does he know the touch cue?  Nose targeting.  You can teach him to touch his nose to your fist.  This helps my dog in many ways.  If I want her in a particular position, I can get her to follow my fist with her nose— and where the nose goes, the body follows.  I also use this cue when my dog is distracted.  It is a way from me to redirect her attention.  I do keep it on a very high rate of reinforcement.  
Good luck! 

 Rox and the kitchen Bitches: 
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

> On May 26, 2014, at 12:19 PM, Kristen via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone--
> 
> How often do you do obedience with your guide, practicing and reviewing commands? Also, how long do you spend on it, and what particular commands do you go over?
> 
> When I was in training with Corvette last summer, they had us reviewing commands every morning. I've done it sporadically over the school year, as I thought he was doing well and had his commands down. Now, I began taking him outside every morning for the last few days to warm up. I feel there are some commands he could be more familiar with (maybe he's forgotten them or just being lazy), and this has seemed to let him know that I am in control and not to tug in whatever direction he chooses. (For example, if I am walking outside and he sees cars, he will immediately tug that way, wanting to get in one as fast as he can to leave. Another thing with Corvette is trying to get him out from under things, such as desks, restaurant tables, and out of the car. He's become a little stubborn, wanting to stay put when I'm ready to leave.)
> 
> If he has forgotten or slacked on a command, any recommendations on how to reteach or develop new ones?
> 
> Thanks for any suggestions/input! The school I attended, KSDS, has lots of documentation; however, none of which is in Braille or an accessible format. I would like to have this, as he is my first guide, and we're still getting used to everything. I'm going to a retreat there this July to hopefully help us fine tune a few skills.
> --
> Kristen
> 
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