Dr. Dunbar’s 28-Day Good Dog Challenge
Position Changes
Day 4 · Sit, Down, and Stand, in random order.
Today’s challenge
Mix up Sit, Down, and Stand. How many position changes in a row will your dog do for just one piece of kibble? By midnight tonight, text me your record. Bonus: send a video!
Why randomize?
When teaching Puppy Push-ups, dogs quickly learn to predict what comes next: the other position! When we want dogs to pay attention to our words and hand signals, we always randomize at least three behaviors. Then your dog must listen and watch to get the correct position. And when they do, praise, and reward.
Stand is extremely useful, too. It makes examinations and grooming, and visits to the vet and groomer, much more enjoyable for your dog.
Step by step
Teach Stand
- Say “Stand.”
- Move your palm, with a piece of kibble between finger and thumb, slowly away from your dog’s nose, to the point where their nose would end up when they stand.
- Once your dog stands, move your palm a tad diagonally downward, toward their chest. Looking down makes your dog arch their neck, which stops them from sitting right after standing.
- Praise, and reward.
Sit and Down are taught just as on Day 3.
Now mix them up
With three positions, there are six different position changes, because each position must be taught from each of the other two (3 × 2 = 6). Ask for them in random order.
What if your dog is still guessing and gets it wrong? No biggie. Simply repeat the word, followed by the hand signal, until they get it right. Then gently praise, and reward.
The formula for teaching any behavior
Request → Lure → Response → Praise & Reward
By now, you’ve probably worked it out. Your dog doesn’t understand the word yet, but they’re fluent in body language, so they easily understand the lure and the hand signal. Dogs learn the meaning of an unknown word when it’s repeatedly followed by something they already know.
The Test Sequence
Some position changes are a little more difficult than others.
So here’s a quickie Test Sequence that includes all six position changes, to check you’re proficient in all of them. Starting with your dog standing:
Sit · Down · Sit · Stand · Down · Stand
Special tips
My dog sits right after standing.
Once your dog stands, move your palm a tad diagonally downward toward their chest. Looking down arches their neck, which makes it harder to sit.
My dog keeps guessing wrong.
No biggie. Repeat the word, then the hand signal, until they get it right. Then gently praise, and reward. Keep the order random, so guessing never pays.
Which position changes should I practice most?
The ones you and your dog find hardest. Use the Test Sequence to find out which ones they are.
What’s next
- Tomorrow, Day 5, it’s Off & Take It, the best exercise for building impulse control.
- From Day 8, the Test Sequence is part of your daily warm-up.
Filming tips and prizes: Videos and Prizes.
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