Could anyone out there tell me the best way to teach a dog an emergency down - stay to a seven month GSD, as he will go down when close but not at a distance, if I tell him down, he comes to me (eventually) and then goes down.
I read the post about whistle training and wondered if this was the way to go?
All replies would be appreciated (whatever the method).

A method I was told about was get a washing lead, attach it to the lead and then hook it around a post. You can then control the dog from a distance and stop him coming forward. I would slowly build up the distance between you and your dog so that he does not become anxious.

Another way i teach it, is with the help of someone else to start with is put shadow at the top of the stairs you at the bottom and tell him to go down with the other person reinforcing it, then once he gets the hang of it, you can do it with just you and shadow, the stairs gives you the distance you need.

I can be of some help, I cannot tell you, in writing, how to do it but I can tell you some of the things not to do.

Do not read books, ask for lessons, as such, on sites like this, which although they can be educational and very informative, no one knows your INDIVIDUAL dog, what its drives are like, nerve thresholds, genetic obedience characteristics and dozens and dozens of other factors. No one but you knows how the sum total of your dog is responding to you in a given situation

You have to have competent people around you with proven ability for these things so try and find a local GSD club, preferably one which goes in for KC, CD training qualifications,or a dog club which is aiming at gaining CDX titles for its members, if not find a GSD breeder of repute and ask for some leads from them.

You do not mention if you're in an obedience class, if not and you try to find one make sure they vary in their methods with individual dogs. If you come across a class where they try and fit all dogs into one method they have a theory which they are trying to prove and the dogs come second place to the importance of the theory, which as often as not is at your and your dogs expense, you need to demand results they are claiming 'dog training' and that succesfull outcome to your stated needs is what they must do if they accept you.

Another couple of things I will mention is that it is not called an emergency down it is a part of normal obedience, most dog owners used to train for it at competant classes but over this past 10 years or so people seem to be under the impression they can get one behavioural response in isolation and avoid training, some dogs need very little training, other needs lots, but to reliably and consistently down your dog in an emergency you must do full obedience training, its a part of it.

Finaly, its all done in the field, books make money, you make your dog.

The reason I called it an emergency down is that in an emergency ie. chasing a cat towards a road or something like that I would like to know that I could stop him dead to save his life!!
I have attended classes since I got my dog but recently have not been able to attend on the night the classes are held, I will be returning and will ask for their advice when I do, I just thought someone could help me before that!!

My Border Collie will do the down on command and drop straight away.

how I taught it.
While having him walking by my side on a loose lead I would say down very firmly and push him down gently by his shoulders then would praise for a good down.
When he was doing this first time everytime on the lead I then removed his lead would put him in a down stay walk away then call him to me and at some point say down again very firmly it took doing this everyday to get it right but I can say he has done the down command everytime for the last 4 years to me it is one of the best things you can teach a dog as one day it could be a life saver.

Karen

Hi Lynne,

I knew exactley what you meant and think it's a good idea. Down is such an important and useful command and is the one I'd use in an emergency.

Fiona

Hi Avaunt

In one email you appear to have negated what I feel this board is all about - exchange of views, tips and information!

Yes - by all means go to classes but an instant down at many of them is not high on their list of priorities. It is taught as an exercise in WT and Distance Control in obedience but rarely otherwise

I have found one way to teach it, is first to teach the dog the basics so it knows what down means and will do it close to you. Once it really knows what this means get it excited - play with it and then command "DOWN" . For some reason I have found that when they are wound up they will go down faster and you can teach this further and further away thus getting some distance. I should mention that using this method you also have to teach the dog when it is a calm situation at a distance as well as close so it is almost a brainwashed response.

Christine

Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I think this would work with him because he really does respond quickly when wound up, looks a bit like an old man going into a down sometimes.
I'll give it a try, he will enjoy it I know.
Thanks.

good on you for asking, I'm sure you're intelligent enough to realise there will be plenty of varied answers and that you are the best person to know what may or may not work for your dog. I can't understand why people who insist that boards like this are a waste of time etc bother to come on them in the first place!;)

Thanks for the support, I didn't think it was too much to ask, I thought this board with its wealth of experience was the perfect place to ask!

When I read your post I assumed you were looking for different ideas and then you would pick one that 'fits' with you and your dog. And in the meantime I was going to read the responses and store them away for my future reference:D Hope you don't mind;) That's why I come here, to look at how different people address idfferent things - not too sure about prizzles though:D