[Landsman]

Hello all, I am trying to teach my 6 y.o. rat terrier basic commands, starting with sit. The problem is, she won't stand up so I can train her to sit - submissive behavior towards me, when I approach she slouches down or sits on her own. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Gilliandi]

Why is she so afraid of you?

Before you can even begin to train her you need to have her be comfortable enough around you to be able to focus. Her fear is all she can think about when you approach so all she can think to do is cower.

Do you ever use "corrections" with her in training? Do you raise your voice or usd a sharp tone? All these can be terrifying for a dog, especially a small dog.
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[sullyrules]

Hello all, I am trying to teach my 6 y.o. rat terrier basic commands, starting with sit. The problem is, she won't stand up so I can train her to sit - submissive behavior towards me, when I approach she slouches down or sits on her own. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Submissive behavior usually means that she is scared of you. Do you use corrections (leash, spanks, etc) and/or verbal reprimands unwanted behavior?

 

[Landsman]

No, i have been very gentle, she kind of came that way from her previous home. We have given her a few weeks to acclimate while giving her walks, getting her diet on track, and daily routines, but now I want to actually train her and its tough getting started.

 

[sullyrules]

ah ok i assumed you have had her all 6 yrs. How long have you had her?

 

[Landsman]

I guess it's been four weeks now.

 

[sullyrules]

I guess it's been four weeks now.

it sounds like she may have had some negative experiences in her past. my advice would be to carry around a bunch of really tasty treats with you and any time you are in the same room with her give her one by dropping it in her general vicinity.

Don't say anything or make eye contact, just drop treats and after awhile of doing this she will begin to associate you with awesome things happening. She will probably start following you around!

Also as far as training goes, are you familiar with clicker training?

 

[Landsman]

I have heard the term, but haven't researched it. Anything you can tell me about it would be helpful. I should also say, the dog is most attracted to me in the household, is visibly happy when I come home, and does not generally seem afraid of me, just now that I'm approaching her to begin training, can't get her to maintain a standing position.

 

[Tess]

Yes, clicker training is the way to go with a shy dog like this. It builds confidence and trust, which really is what you want to be working on right now, more than worrying about training specific behaviors.

Here is where to start.

From there, you can google "kikopup" or "Tabbs" on U-tube and get loads of nice videos on how to train anything you want.

Again, the behaviors you train are really the vehicles in which you will develop that trust and confidence for your dog.
Good luck!

 

[sullyrules]

I have heard the term, but haven't researched it. Anything you can tell me about it would be helpful. I should also say, the dog is most attracted to me in the household, is visibly happy when I come home, and does not generally seem afraid of me, just now that I'm approaching her to begin training, can't get her to maintain a standing position.

it may be that your body language changes when you go into "training" mode, forward leaning, looming over the pup, using a deep voice, etc are all things that are perfectly natural for us humans to do when training but can be frightening to some dogs.

Make sure you are using a "happy" voice while training, also, if possible, do some initial sessions on your knees or crouched down to make yourself less intimidating.

Yes, clicker training is the way to go with a shy dog like this. It builds confidence and trust, which really is what you want to be working on right now, more than worrying about training specific behaviors.

Here is where to start.

Before you start training with food- clicker training dog - YouTube


From there, you can google "kikopup" or "Tabbs" on U-tube and get loads of nice videos on how to train anything you want.

Again, the behaviors you train are really the vehicles in which you will develop that trust and confidence for your dog.
Good luck!

ditto!

 

[Landsman]

Great stuff, thanks guys, I appreciate your help.

 

[pappi pup]

Rather than trying to "push" her into position, see if you can "lure" her with treats, then click and give the treat. So for instance, if you hold a treat above her head, she may go into a sit, or reach up with front legs off the ground. Or she may paw at your hand, whatever it is, reward that behavior and when it is consistent you can give it a name (such as "sit" or "paw" or whatever). Don't get frustrated trying to get a nice clean "sit", just find a behavior that you can reward with the clicker, and you will be well on your way to training her.

Or you can patiently sit and watch her, then click and treat when she sits spontaneously. After a few times she should start getting the jist of it, and you can name it. She will love clicker training!

 

[fawkese1]

if you are having a hard time with sit, i would suggest working on a different behavior first personally, i think a hand target/touch behavior is invaluable with dog training, and something that can really help a shy dog to overcome a lot of insecurity:

also, to build confidence, "101 things to do with a box" is a great exercise, it also helps the trainer learn timing and teaches the dog to try new things. AND you can choose arbitrary behaviors to reinforce, so that you don't have so much pressure on yourself/the dog to perform a certain way... when you both start to "get it" you can use the same exercise to shape other, desired behaviors:
Trainer's Corner: Improve Your Skills as a Dog Trainer...101 Things to Do With a Box - Canine University