Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So... I recently started training my beautiful dog Chewy.

After starting "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dog Training" I began with a simple sit, which, she already knew but I figured it wouldn't hurt to reinforce it more. She has sit down perfectly... she is also good at staying. I am able to have her sit, tell her "stay" and walk away pretty much as far as I want without her moving. Now, after accomplishing that, I started on "release"... So, I have her sit, stay... and then after walking away and turning back towards Chewy, I'll tell her "release". She comes quickly to recieve her reward.

Sounds great right, well...it is, and she's doing wonderfully. My only problem is that I don't think she's responding to the word "release" just...any word in general. For example... I treid saying some other words like... Octopus, tiger, etc... and she still ran over to me as soon as I said them.

What can I do to get her to only respond to "release" only?

You could not give her treats when she breaks a stay for any other word besides "release." She's probably responding more to your tone than the word. It sounds like she's doing really well with her training though!

I she releasing from a word or an action that you are doing at the same tim you are saying the word? MANY dogs release on body movements- sometimes quite subtle and no particular word at all. Test that and see if it's movement by holding perfectly still when you say the word "release." She may just keep sitting there. If releasing on movement, then be aware and don't move while teaching the word "release."

If she is just releasing on any old word, then don't give a treat when she releases on the wrong word. Bring her back, put her in a sit/stay and try again. For my easily bored dog I typically have to do something different if he's made a mistake and go back to the problem I'm trying to fix a bit later- but he shuts down if he makes too many mistakes in a row and I can't reward him.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles