Your Favorite Lab trick?

[kassabella]

I just remebered one useful thing I taught Kassa. Now. Couldn't think of another word.

Come NOW!!!!! with arm signal as well. I taught all her commands with hand signals. I taught her this so if I saw something harmful about to happen she would respond instantly. No second thoughts. Panic. NOW!!!. Down NOW!! meant exactly that. Stop mid track and down.

Once day I was at the library and my arm got tangled in the lead and her collar slipped off. She darted to the kerb of a main road. Panic down. She lay down immediately.
On another occassion a threatening dog came into the park. I could see, but silly girl was so friendly. I used the panic command and she was at my side for me to hook her lead on. Another dog was savagely bitten.

[Tanya]

I just remebered one useful thing I taught Kassa. Now. Couldn't think of another word.

Come NOW!!!!! with arm signal as well. I taught all her commands with hand signals. I taught her this so if I saw something harmful about to happen she would respond instantly. No second thoughts. Panic. NOW!!!. Down NOW!! meant exactly that. Stop mid track and down.

Once day I was at the library and my arm got tangled in the lead and her collar slipped off. She darted to the kerb of a main road. Panic down. She lay down immediately.
On another occassion a threatening dog came into the park. I could see, but silly girl was so friendly. I used the panic command and she was at my side for me to hook her lead on. Another dog was savagely bitten.

I have heard of panic commands (or "emergency" commands) - but how do you teach those? as opposed to a normal "sit" and that they know there is a difference?

[Trickster]

I don't know if it is my favorite trick but I think 'close the door' is pretty cute. If we ever have guests around it never fails to wow them.

[kassabella]

I just remebered one useful thing I taught Kassa. Now. Couldn't think of another word.

Come NOW!!!!! with arm signal as well. I taught all her commands with hand signals. I taught her this so if I saw something harmful about to happen she would respond instantly. No second thoughts. Panic. NOW!!!. Down NOW!! meant exactly that. Stop mid track and down.

Once day I was at the library and my arm got tangled in the lead and her collar slipped off. She darted to the kerb of a main road. Panic down. She lay down immediately.
On another occassion a threatening dog came into the park. I could see, but silly girl was so friendly. I used the panic command and she was at my side for me to hook her lead on. Another dog was savagely bitten.

I have heard of panic commands (or "emergency" commands) - but how do you teach those? as opposed to a normal "sit" and that they know there is a difference?

I am no trainer so please don't follow me. Trainers will tell you the best way.
But here is what I did.
Once she knew the sit, down, stop and come commands I started doing it quickly. On the spot down now.
I would call her to me then before she got to me say down NOW with a really forceful hand signal that I use for down. No matter where she stopped I gave her an extra special treat. I kept doing this and emphasising the word NOW. Kass caught on quickly and better if food was involved.
the arm signals I used for come now were different to the come signal.


Soulmist. You said funny things. I have taken this subject off your original thread. I am sorry.