Keeping Positive
don't give it. No matter what the dog does, don't give him the treat unless he sits. You can move the treat to hold it directly over the dog's head. Usually, when you do this, the dog will sit on his own so that he can be more comfortable while he stares straight up at the treat you are not sharing. As soon as he does, click the clicker and give the treat. After a few repetitions, you've got a dog that's made a connection. He knows that the click means that he's done something that you will give him a treat for. And now he knows that sitting down earns a click. Start saying, "sit" while he is in the process of doing just that. Soon you've got a dog that you have taught to sit on command, and you did not have to make him uncomfortable or hurt him in anyway to train him.
Now, I am not an expert on positive training methods. I am still learning and have got a long way to go. But I can tell you how it's worked out at this house.
First off, there is Sephie, the timid rescue Rottie. I cannot use force with this girl because there is no way she could emotionally handle it (not to mention that I would feel guilty after all she's been though). But she is also quite intelligent, dying to please, and extremely food motivated. Positive training has so far worked great with her. She learned to sit and lie down in record time. Her attention is also really good. In class, one of our instructors said she's got the attention of a sheltie (shelties tend to perform well in events like obedience trials and agility, helped by the fact that they are so focused on their handlers). In fact, the attention she gives me in obedience class is much better than that of her predecessor Chelsea, who was originally trained by the "push her rear end down to get her to sit" method. Also, Sephie is usually focused and has a wagging nub while training. On the other hand, Chelsea had more of a bored teenager "whatever" attitude.
As far as Chelsea goes, I didn't start using a clicker with her until late in her life, when she was pretty set in her ways. However, with the clicker, she really perked up.
Case number two - Dingo, the
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