Kinder Puppy has been really fun ~ to this point we have breezed through.
"Look" to get her attention has been amazing ~ super helpful when she grabs something she shouldn't or is gonzo in her own little world in the yard.
"Sit" she obviously knew before class as that's just one I think everyone works on regardless how much "training" they are going to do.
"This way" ~ very cool for helping with the lead.
"Stand" she grasps it, I just haven't figured out the utility in that one yet, but we do it because it was requested. If she was a larger breed it would be very helpful I think.
Each week we are introduced to a piece of agility equipment so that those who have an interest can get into it when their dog is ready. They don't use is, it's just an introduction ~ but its been fun watching how the different dogs act when introduced.

This week we continue with "look", "this way", "sit" & "stand" mixing up the order and "down / relax" was introduced. This will be our stumbling block. She said practicing on something elevated might work so I am able to lower the treat to where she has to drop. She also said if I sit on the floor and lure her under my leg at the knee area giving her limited space I might have success with that method. She doesn't believe in force she likes the pups to learn naturally which I like that approach, but "down/ relax" is difficult. Rio can get her head down to the treat without getting into a down position and Filet Mignon or the most glorious chicken neck out there doesn't inspire her to hang off the edge of something yet. With that how have those who have taught a smaller breed dog has success? Just looking for something that works so we can practice and get it this week. If you have a suggestion I would really appreciate it ~ tia

Stand seemed a big deal in our class as well. Of course everyone else there is a medium to very large dog. The instructor spoke about how helpful at the vet when taking temp. I giggled thinking of our vet/vet tech picking up a Chi with one hand and the thermometer in the other. Stand would get wasted for that use!

Please know that I am learning so am no expert. I can tell you what I did. Down took a longer time to learn than other tricks. Likely because I did not know what to do. One still is not very good yet.
I was sort of "dragging" the treat through the air from their feet to where I wanted them to be and they just stood up, walked and followed the treat. I then tried having them sit and then I put the treat clear up by their feet. It worked.

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photos-Jennifer Hague, fixyourimages.com

I trained down second after sit. I just used the treat and moved it from nose to floor. Next I taught crawl - which is so cute. I think it helped that at first I repeated the commands in order - sit, down, crawl. Once we both got a hand signal figured out (finger to floor) it became easier to begin with down.

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Here are pictures of Barney: Flickr: Crochet Bouquet's Photostream

Will be watching this thread for awesome tips. Zoe is trained well she comes when called off leash will look,stay,sit ,lay and walk by my side but Holly she so far she will sit on cue lol..

How can you tell when she is sitting?

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Siggy compliments of the talented Jan!

yeah hard to imagine huh lol

May i ask how you teach look?
Honey just seems to want to run away from me lol, but she is doing very well with Sit, Spin and Down (i put her on the settee, me sitting on the floor, and when she was sitting, i slowly lowered the treat to nearly off the edge and she got it - her whole body went down ). Thanks.

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We did "look" with treat in hand
I said look and as soon as she put her focus on the hand she was treated (Immediate treat).
We then extended the time from the look to giving the treat.
From there we just practiced ~ the more chaotic the environment the better.
We also practice different places so she doesn't think she just has to perform in 1 location.

I am now to the point of not treating for every look ~ she gets some serious "lovin" upon occasion just because if I need her to look and don't have a treat I don't want her to get savvy enough to know that broad expects me to look but isn't packing a treat ~ not going to happen.

It's been great for when the white sock foot attack is in full swing & we are to the point when she is zooming through the yard if I say "Look" she comes in like a bolt of lightening. She is also getting a tiny bit more freedom in the house after she does serious potty ~ so it is nice to say Ri ~ Look and here those feet pounding to get her reward.

Taught a lot of dogs various tricks through the years & I never specifically taught look but in doing so with this dog I would say it is more "important" than sit initially. Definitely worth a go if you haven't taught it yet.

If everyone shares what they are doing and what's working for them we should have some Kick A pointers in teaching some fun things (I love the sounds of crawl).