-
Teaching a shy Saluki to sit
Hi Everyone! I have a training client with a very shy rescue dog who is a Saluki. She looks like a Greyhound. We are having challenges getting her to ‘sit’ using any method. Right now I have them working on using a food lure to shape a sit in very small approximations (head craning). However, she is very suspicious of hands near her head. She is also very uncomfortable if we try to use the wall/corner behind her to help get her to sit. They are capturing a sit (when they can) and just using verbal praise along with the cue.
Does anyone have any other ideas, tricks or tips? Thanks so much in advance!
-
6 Replies
-
Great question, @sandy – A couple of thoughts to consider:
Sitting may be uncomfortable – sighthounds don’t fold well! The mechanics of sit are rather awkward for them, and if they’ve not practiced it, their big thigh muscles may be stiff. Like me tryna do a yoga child pose. I’m only gonna get so far… but with practice and stretching, I may get better. They will, too.
Hind-end awareness is a new concept for most dogs. You can teach a hind foot target with a small raised surface, like a tactile fit paws pod. I also like laying down cavaletti poles or simply using a ladder laid down flat on the ground and luring them to walk through it. Once they know they have a back end, movements “back there” become easier to do.
Meanwhile, why is a Sit needed? Could a Down work as well? Or a Stand-Stay/Wait? I think it’s a worthy conversation to have with the client, and to empathize with the dog’s limitations both physically and emotionally. Let’s build a great relationship first, by having the dog do comfortable, fun things, and add in a Sit down the road when more trust is present.
What do you think?
-
Hi @catherine That makes so much sense! I think there is an unwritten rule somewhere wherein we all think that dogs should all sit on cue! I like that you are asking ‘why’! 🙂 Thank you!
-
You are very welcome. When possible, I like to defer to the dog’s preference. After all, only they can tell us what’s comfortable. If we don’t listen to them, what are we even doing!? ???? (And I acknowledge that sometimes dogs need to do things people require… but in the case of Sit… maybe not so much.)
-
-
-
My first thought was; is the dog in any pain?
-
Hi @jenz … that was my first question as well. The vet and the guardians don’t think she’s in pain. She sits sometimes, [on her own time]. I’ve also discovered through asking questions, that she is happier to sit on carpet, but less so on other surfaces. ????
-
LOL, @sandy , some of my dogs thought sitting on a cold, hardy surface was torture! Namely, the min pins, chihuahuas, and ridgebacks!
-
-
Log in to reply.