Sit means , Sit

Just back from a 2 day workshop with Kim Collins in Prince Albert.  Since my last post talks about stays, I thought I would write about a revelation I had at the workshop regarding the stay.   To make it simple, sit means sit until released, down means down until released and stand means stand until released.  If the dog breaks, how can you convey to them what was wrong except to reinforce the position you left them in.  If you use stay or wait and the dog breaks how is the dog supposed to know what part they got wrong.

 

In both the CKC Draft Test and the Obedience trial I entered last year with Reese, we NQ’ed on the stays. I use the word wait on a recall and stay on an exercise in which I will return to release the dog.  I can see where although not confusing to me, it is not clear to the dog.  It is much simpler to reinforce each position.  So I have already started to do that with Reese and I see it makes things clear to her.  I’ve also just been using the position cue with no wait or stay with Nugget and having some success.