| FRONT RANGE K-9 ACADEMY 6719 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO (720) 839-1102 frontrangek9@k9counselor.com |
Upon completion of this contract, you can either:
A. Copy and paste the contract into your email browser, type 'Agreed' in your subject line, and email the copied contract to
Jennifer@k9counselor.com
or
B. Print the contract, sign at the bottom, and return the signed contract to a Front Range K9 Academy agent on your first
session.
NOTE: Beginning training or counseling with or without a reply to this message constitutes agreement
to the terms set down below.
RULES & REGULATIONS - please read carefully, your satisfaction may depend on it!
- You will need Internet and Email access to be a part of this dog training program.
- To join our Yahoo group, go to: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/frontrangek9/
Submit for membership by clicking on 'join this group' and following the instructions. Joining this group is vital to
receiving updates on policies, special announcements, cancellations, and new classes. This group is also the best
way to ask questions about training. Posting questions here allows others who are training to get additional information, even
if they're not in your class - they may have similar questions. This also allows more teaching time for your trainer during
class. You can also use this yahoo group to discuss your assignments with other Front Range K9 Academy clients, and to
schedule times to work with each other in the real world.
- For FREE dog training articles and tips, visit our dog blog: http://coloradodogtraining.blogspot.com/
- To review written training lessons: Each session, you will be emailed a link to locate the appropriate lesson file(s). Find
your dog's name in the list and click the listed lesson file on the Lessons page. Be fair to your dog - don't skip ahead on
lessons. Our program is structured so that each new skill builds on the one before it.
- Crate training information, if needed, can be found at: http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/crate.htm
- Dog’s Age: Dogs must be at least 12 weeks old to begin counseling.
- Shots: Dogs must have current vaccines (or current titers), including current rabies shot (if old enough for rabies shot).
- Trainee’s Age: Trainees between 14 and 16 years of age must have a parent attending all classes. For trainees 18 years
or under, parent must sign commitment form and contract and liability release form. Children under 10 are not allowed in the
training facility. Children under 14 are not allowed to handle dogs in the training facility.
- Liability: The person(s) signing or replying to this contract will be responsible for any and all damage and/or injury caused
by his/her dog. The person(s) signing or replying to this contract understands that we will take all reasonable safety
precautions in working with him/her and his/her dog, but that dog training can be a physical activity with physical risks. The
person(s) signing or replying to this contract releases Front Range K9 Academy and its agents from any and all liabilities
regarding the heath and safety of themselves and their dogs.
- Canine Etiquette: Disruptive dogs who are training in semi-private classes will be allowed to attend up to the first 3 classes,
at the trainer's discretion. If the disruption continues, or is deemed detrimental, these dogs will be transferred to private
training until the issues are resolved. Cost for private training is generally $20 more per class.
- Handlers: Only the person(s) applying for counseling will be permitted to handle the dog on leash. Additional family
members may AUDIT classes. Disruptive observers will be asked to leave the facility.
- Attire/Shoes: Casual Attire and Tennis shoes with soles that grip are best. Trainees with improper shoes won't be allowed
to train in class.
- Equipment: Required equipment will be used at each lesson; handlers without proper equipment will be asked to leave.
NO EXCEPTIONS. The required equipment includes:
1. TRAINING COLLAR
2. 6 foot leather or nylon leash (NO EXCEPTIONS - NO 4 foot leashes)
3. 15 foot leash, or two 6 foot leashes. (NO retractable leashes!)
4. E-collar as needed
5. Bath mat or door mat for your dog to rest on. Our floors are concrete - and COLD sometimes.
6. For the explanations about our equipment requirements, visit the article: http://coloradodogtraining.blogspot.
com/2008/10/right-tools.html
- Security: No dog may be left unattended at any time. Dogs must enter and exit the facility ON LEASH.
- Children: Children under the age of 10 are not allowed in the counseling facility . Additionally, disruptive observers of any
age will be asked to leave the facility.
- Cell Phones/Pagers: Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices before beginning class.
- Elimination: Dogs who need to eliminate cannot concentrate! Please make sure your dog has ‘pottied’ before entering the
facility. Waste bags are available if you have forgotten yours. Please be considerate of our neighbors...their lawns are not
your dog's personal toilet. TIP: Do not feed your dog for 2 hours before coming to class. NOTE: Please be considerate
of our neighbors. Only use the area directly behind the training studio as an elimination area for your dogs.
There is a scoop and bucket available for your use at our back door.
- Inclement Weather: If there is a snow storm, it is possible that training and counseling sessions will be canceled. If you are
unsure of whether class will be held, call (720) 839-1102. If we are unable to make it to class, there will be an outgoing
message stating classes are canceled for the day.
- Appointment Times: During training sessions, the front door to the office will be locked or gated off, and a sign will be
posted on the door indicating that we are in session, and no one will be allowed to enter.
Additionally, please don't show up too early for your appointments, as you may end up waiting in inclement weather.
Finally, I will be using a timer during sessions to keep myself & my clients on track (yeah, yeah...mostly myself). Hopefully, this
will allow everyone the time they've paid for and deserve, as well as keep dogs and people safe.
Client Commitment Agreement
- Client commits to working with dog for a minimum of 20 minutes, twice a day, for at least 5 days of each week (separate from
sessions with Front Range K-9 Academy LLC).
- Client commits to respecting his/her own time, and the time of his/her instructor, by accomplishing the lessons assigned to
each week, before coming to the next session.
- Client commits to calling instructor if Client has problems, concerns, or questions – so that facility time is as productive as it
can be.
- If Client has been unable to fulfill the required practice-time commitment, Client will postpone his or her next session by
giving notice within reasonable time. NOTE: Because of our busy schedules, cancellations can sometimes result in a 2 to 3
week delay before we can see you again. This is not recommended for the dog's learning process, so please keep
cancellations to a minimum. There is a $20 fee for all makeup sessions.
- Client commits to using exclusively the techniques learned through Front Range K-9 Academy LLC during counseling with
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC.
- Client commits to maintaining good dog handling techniques with dog for a minimum of three 20 minute sessions per week
upon completion of counseling with Front Range K-9 Academy LLC.
- Client understands that failure to follow through on any of the above commitments will greatly reduce the results of our time
together and render null and void any guarantees, written, verbal, or implied.
CONTRACT AND LIABILITY RELEASE
THIS CONTRACT is made and entered into by and between Front Range K-9 Academy LLC and the “Client” (replying
recipient of this email).
It is agreed by the parties to this agreement that:
Following the preliminary evaluation, should Client and Front Range K-9 Academy LLC agree that further Services are
required, a schedule and regular fees for Services agreeable to both will be set and followed; and said schedule and fees for
Services shall be subject to the guidelines set down in this agreement.
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC reserves the right to refuse Services to Client at our discretion, with or without notice; and
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC shall charge a $20.00 cancellation fee in addition to the regular fee for any appointment
canceled by Client less than 24 hours before said appointment; and a $40.00 canceled check fee for any returned check; and
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC shall wait 20 minutes from the start of the set appointment time to allow for traffic or other
transit problems. After said 20 minutes has passed, the session is considered canceled-without-notice, and full charges for
the scheduled service will apply; and
If, through no fault of Front Range K-9 Academy LLC, a specific counseling session is canceled more than two times, Front
Range K-9 Academy LLC reserves the right to suspend or discontinue counseling with the Client, or to charge our minimum
individual session fee of $75.00/session for continued counseling, at our discretion; and
Each level of counseling must be completed in the specified period, which is generally double the amount of sessions
purchased, plus 2 weeks. For Clients who fail to complete counseling in the specified period, Front Range K-9 Academy LLC
reserves the right to discontinue future counseling, or to charge our minumum individual session fee of $75.00/session for
continued counseling, at our discretion; and
If, through no fault of Front Range K-9 Academy LLC, the Services contracted for by Client cannot be completed, Front
Range K-9 Academy LLC will provide credit to Client for counseling services already paid for but not yet received. However,
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will NOT refund any portion of money paid. The credit which Client will receive will entitle
Client to receive counseling for the dog or substitute dog, and this credit is fully transferable; and
Client understands that dog training is a physical activity. Although Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will use all reasonable
care to teach your and your dog safe training methods, Client shall not hold Front Range K-9 Academy LLC liable for any
personal injury, or injury to their dog during or after completing training.
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC is not liable for the dog’s performance. Although Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will use all
reasonable care, in a reasonable manner, to train and/or counsel Client’s dog, Front Range K-9 Academy LLC cannot
guarantee that the dog will respond adequately to all commands at all times. The effectiveness of the completed counseling
program depends upon many factors over which Front Range K-9 Academy LLC has no control. Such factors include, but
are not limited to, the future health of the dog, the frequency and effectiveness of counseling reinforcement which Client must
give the dog, and the degree of respect which Client instills in the dog. Client agrees that Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will
not be liable for any damage or loss resulting from the dog’s failure to respond to any command(s) or behavior modification
for which Front Range K-9 Academy LLC counseled the dog; and
Should Client’s dog injure any person, or should the dog’s failure to respond to any command(s) result in damage to the
property or person of any person (including Client), Client agrees to absolve Front Range K-9 Academy LLC from any and all
obligations and to pay any such damage to such person. Client further agrees to hold Front Range K-9 Academy LLC
harmless from any and all such claims.
This written CONTRACT constitutes the entire agreement between Front Range K-9 Academy LLC and Client and may not
be changed except by a writing signed by Front Range K-9 Academy LLC and Client.
Client has read the above CONTRACT and AGREES TO ITS TERMS. NOTE: Beginning training or counseling with or
without a reply to this message constitutes consent and agreement to the terms set down below.
First Homework Assignment - please follow these instructions DAILY prior to your first counseling session.
‘Settle’ or The Long Down - a calming, impulse control exercise
There is a major difference in the down/stay and the long down. The down/stay can only be taught after the dog has learned
to down on command.
Teaching a dog to down on a voice command can take up to three weeks of working three sessions per day, every day. The
long down can be taught in a couple of sessions. It has a totally different focus. It cannot be called a long down unless it is at
least 30 minutes in duration. The dog has on a collar that it can't back out of and a 6' leash is then attached to that collar.
The leash is then run, from left to right over the seat of a solid chair that does not have wheels. The owner then sits on the
chair and the leash. The leash is adjusted so that when the dog decides to lie down there will be gentle upward pressure on
the collar. At no time does the owner touch, look at or talk to the dog. The dog must be wearing collar and leash when doing
this exercise.
The owner must have something else to do during the long down period. Read a book. Play a computer game. Write out all
your complaints about having to do this stupid exercise. Talk to a friend. Eat a meal. Pay some bills. Do some homework. It
really doesn't matter as long as you are doing something. The only time you would acknowledge the dog is to push it away if it
tries to climb into your lap or tries to eat the leg off the chair you are sitting in or some other behavior that is equally
unacceptable. When this happens, you must take whatever physical means necessary to cause the dog to stop the behavior
at once and not resume it at a latter date.
This is an exercise in leadership and dominance. You are supposed to be the dominant one and the leader. As such, you are
the one who decides where the two of you will be and for how long and it is not a voting matter. This is an exercise in
patience. Something every dog must learn if it is to survive to live a comfortable life. There are no maximum time lengths for
this exercise. However, the minimum time is 30 minutes. The exercise should be practiced twice per day, every day. The dog
must be wearing collar and leash when doing this exercise.
After the first couple of days, this is a very calming and soothing exercise for both parties. During the first couple of days a
really determined dog will go through the most amazing series of behaviors. Not only that, they will repeat the series in the
same sequence over and over. When none of the behaviors win them the leadership post they will literally throw themselves
down, give a very loud humph and refuse to look at you. After this period has passed it is all smooth sailing and happy tail
wags.
Again, the long down has nothing in common with a down/stay other than the physical position of the dog. You can NOT leave
a dog that is doing a long down because you are a major part of the picture. You do leave a dog that is doing a down/stay.
You can NOT tell the dog or show the dog how to do the long down. You must give the dog the chance to figure out what the
most comfortable position is going to be. The dog must be wearing collar and leash when doing this exercise.
-Courtesy of Margot Woods, Dog Trainer
A. Copy and paste the contract into your email browser, type 'Agreed' in your subject line, and email the copied contract to
Jennifer@k9counselor.com
or
B. Print the contract, sign at the bottom, and return the signed contract to a Front Range K9 Academy agent on your first
session.
NOTE: Beginning training or counseling with or without a reply to this message constitutes agreement
to the terms set down below.
RULES & REGULATIONS - please read carefully, your satisfaction may depend on it!
- You will need Internet and Email access to be a part of this dog training program.
- To join our Yahoo group, go to: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/frontrangek9/
Submit for membership by clicking on 'join this group' and following the instructions. Joining this group is vital to
receiving updates on policies, special announcements, cancellations, and new classes. This group is also the best
way to ask questions about training. Posting questions here allows others who are training to get additional information, even
if they're not in your class - they may have similar questions. This also allows more teaching time for your trainer during
class. You can also use this yahoo group to discuss your assignments with other Front Range K9 Academy clients, and to
schedule times to work with each other in the real world.
- For FREE dog training articles and tips, visit our dog blog: http://coloradodogtraining.blogspot.com/
- To review written training lessons: Each session, you will be emailed a link to locate the appropriate lesson file(s). Find
your dog's name in the list and click the listed lesson file on the Lessons page. Be fair to your dog - don't skip ahead on
lessons. Our program is structured so that each new skill builds on the one before it.
- Crate training information, if needed, can be found at: http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/crate.htm
- Dog’s Age: Dogs must be at least 12 weeks old to begin counseling.
- Shots: Dogs must have current vaccines (or current titers), including current rabies shot (if old enough for rabies shot).
- - Effective 05/01/08: Dogs must be immunized against Bordetella (kennel cough).
- - We do not require that you show proof of vaccinations unless there is some problem. However, attending classes
without vaccinating puts sole responsibility on the owner.
- Trainee’s Age: Trainees between 14 and 16 years of age must have a parent attending all classes. For trainees 18 years
or under, parent must sign commitment form and contract and liability release form. Children under 10 are not allowed in the
training facility. Children under 14 are not allowed to handle dogs in the training facility.
- Liability: The person(s) signing or replying to this contract will be responsible for any and all damage and/or injury caused
by his/her dog. The person(s) signing or replying to this contract understands that we will take all reasonable safety
precautions in working with him/her and his/her dog, but that dog training can be a physical activity with physical risks. The
person(s) signing or replying to this contract releases Front Range K9 Academy and its agents from any and all liabilities
regarding the heath and safety of themselves and their dogs.
- Canine Etiquette: Disruptive dogs who are training in semi-private classes will be allowed to attend up to the first 3 classes,
at the trainer's discretion. If the disruption continues, or is deemed detrimental, these dogs will be transferred to private
training until the issues are resolved. Cost for private training is generally $20 more per class.
- Handlers: Only the person(s) applying for counseling will be permitted to handle the dog on leash. Additional family
members may AUDIT classes. Disruptive observers will be asked to leave the facility.
- Attire/Shoes: Casual Attire and Tennis shoes with soles that grip are best. Trainees with improper shoes won't be allowed
to train in class.
- Equipment: Required equipment will be used at each lesson; handlers without proper equipment will be asked to leave.
NO EXCEPTIONS. The required equipment includes:
1. TRAINING COLLAR
- - Most dogs will be working in traditional training collars, commonly known as 'slip collars.' Proper fit is a must. For
help with proper fit and putting on the collar, click here: how to put on your training collar
- - To order German or Tosutti Prong training collars, go to: http://www.leerburg.com/equip.htm#prong and order the
size you are given by your canine counselor.
- Note: Not all dogs will require these collars, this link is ONLY provided for those who are instructed to use this
type of collar by their canine counselor.
- Note: We only endorse Herm Sprenger prong collars. Other collars may cause harm, or break open at
inopportune moments, causing your dog to escape. We only recommend fitting the collar as seen here:
http://www.leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm
- If your instructor requires that you use a dominant dog collar, you can order them here:
http://www.leerburg.com/746.htm Be sure you measure correctly and use the sizing chart on the website.
2. 6 foot leather or nylon leash (NO EXCEPTIONS - NO 4 foot leashes)
3. 15 foot leash, or two 6 foot leashes. (NO retractable leashes!)
4. E-collar as needed
5. Bath mat or door mat for your dog to rest on. Our floors are concrete - and COLD sometimes.
6. For the explanations about our equipment requirements, visit the article: http://coloradodogtraining.blogspot.
com/2008/10/right-tools.html
- Security: No dog may be left unattended at any time. Dogs must enter and exit the facility ON LEASH.
- Children: Children under the age of 10 are not allowed in the counseling facility . Additionally, disruptive observers of any
age will be asked to leave the facility.
- Cell Phones/Pagers: Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices before beginning class.
- Elimination: Dogs who need to eliminate cannot concentrate! Please make sure your dog has ‘pottied’ before entering the
facility. Waste bags are available if you have forgotten yours. Please be considerate of our neighbors...their lawns are not
your dog's personal toilet. TIP: Do not feed your dog for 2 hours before coming to class. NOTE: Please be considerate
of our neighbors. Only use the area directly behind the training studio as an elimination area for your dogs.
There is a scoop and bucket available for your use at our back door.
- Inclement Weather: If there is a snow storm, it is possible that training and counseling sessions will be canceled. If you are
unsure of whether class will be held, call (720) 839-1102. If we are unable to make it to class, there will be an outgoing
message stating classes are canceled for the day.
- Appointment Times: During training sessions, the front door to the office will be locked or gated off, and a sign will be
posted on the door indicating that we are in session, and no one will be allowed to enter.
Additionally, please don't show up too early for your appointments, as you may end up waiting in inclement weather.
Finally, I will be using a timer during sessions to keep myself & my clients on track (yeah, yeah...mostly myself). Hopefully, this
will allow everyone the time they've paid for and deserve, as well as keep dogs and people safe.
Client Commitment Agreement
- Client commits to working with dog for a minimum of 20 minutes, twice a day, for at least 5 days of each week (separate from
sessions with Front Range K-9 Academy LLC).
- Client commits to respecting his/her own time, and the time of his/her instructor, by accomplishing the lessons assigned to
each week, before coming to the next session.
- Client commits to calling instructor if Client has problems, concerns, or questions – so that facility time is as productive as it
can be.
- If Client has been unable to fulfill the required practice-time commitment, Client will postpone his or her next session by
giving notice within reasonable time. NOTE: Because of our busy schedules, cancellations can sometimes result in a 2 to 3
week delay before we can see you again. This is not recommended for the dog's learning process, so please keep
cancellations to a minimum. There is a $20 fee for all makeup sessions.
- Client commits to using exclusively the techniques learned through Front Range K-9 Academy LLC during counseling with
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC.
- Client commits to maintaining good dog handling techniques with dog for a minimum of three 20 minute sessions per week
upon completion of counseling with Front Range K-9 Academy LLC.
- Client understands that failure to follow through on any of the above commitments will greatly reduce the results of our time
together and render null and void any guarantees, written, verbal, or implied.
CONTRACT AND LIABILITY RELEASE
THIS CONTRACT is made and entered into by and between Front Range K-9 Academy LLC and the “Client” (replying
recipient of this email).
It is agreed by the parties to this agreement that:
Following the preliminary evaluation, should Client and Front Range K-9 Academy LLC agree that further Services are
required, a schedule and regular fees for Services agreeable to both will be set and followed; and said schedule and fees for
Services shall be subject to the guidelines set down in this agreement.
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC reserves the right to refuse Services to Client at our discretion, with or without notice; and
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC shall charge a $20.00 cancellation fee in addition to the regular fee for any appointment
canceled by Client less than 24 hours before said appointment; and a $40.00 canceled check fee for any returned check; and
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC shall wait 20 minutes from the start of the set appointment time to allow for traffic or other
transit problems. After said 20 minutes has passed, the session is considered canceled-without-notice, and full charges for
the scheduled service will apply; and
If, through no fault of Front Range K-9 Academy LLC, a specific counseling session is canceled more than two times, Front
Range K-9 Academy LLC reserves the right to suspend or discontinue counseling with the Client, or to charge our minimum
individual session fee of $75.00/session for continued counseling, at our discretion; and
Each level of counseling must be completed in the specified period, which is generally double the amount of sessions
purchased, plus 2 weeks. For Clients who fail to complete counseling in the specified period, Front Range K-9 Academy LLC
reserves the right to discontinue future counseling, or to charge our minumum individual session fee of $75.00/session for
continued counseling, at our discretion; and
If, through no fault of Front Range K-9 Academy LLC, the Services contracted for by Client cannot be completed, Front
Range K-9 Academy LLC will provide credit to Client for counseling services already paid for but not yet received. However,
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will NOT refund any portion of money paid. The credit which Client will receive will entitle
Client to receive counseling for the dog or substitute dog, and this credit is fully transferable; and
Client understands that dog training is a physical activity. Although Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will use all reasonable
care to teach your and your dog safe training methods, Client shall not hold Front Range K-9 Academy LLC liable for any
personal injury, or injury to their dog during or after completing training.
Front Range K-9 Academy LLC is not liable for the dog’s performance. Although Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will use all
reasonable care, in a reasonable manner, to train and/or counsel Client’s dog, Front Range K-9 Academy LLC cannot
guarantee that the dog will respond adequately to all commands at all times. The effectiveness of the completed counseling
program depends upon many factors over which Front Range K-9 Academy LLC has no control. Such factors include, but
are not limited to, the future health of the dog, the frequency and effectiveness of counseling reinforcement which Client must
give the dog, and the degree of respect which Client instills in the dog. Client agrees that Front Range K-9 Academy LLC will
not be liable for any damage or loss resulting from the dog’s failure to respond to any command(s) or behavior modification
for which Front Range K-9 Academy LLC counseled the dog; and
Should Client’s dog injure any person, or should the dog’s failure to respond to any command(s) result in damage to the
property or person of any person (including Client), Client agrees to absolve Front Range K-9 Academy LLC from any and all
obligations and to pay any such damage to such person. Client further agrees to hold Front Range K-9 Academy LLC
harmless from any and all such claims.
This written CONTRACT constitutes the entire agreement between Front Range K-9 Academy LLC and Client and may not
be changed except by a writing signed by Front Range K-9 Academy LLC and Client.
Client has read the above CONTRACT and AGREES TO ITS TERMS. NOTE: Beginning training or counseling with or
without a reply to this message constitutes consent and agreement to the terms set down below.
First Homework Assignment - please follow these instructions DAILY prior to your first counseling session.
‘Settle’ or The Long Down - a calming, impulse control exercise
There is a major difference in the down/stay and the long down. The down/stay can only be taught after the dog has learned
to down on command.
Teaching a dog to down on a voice command can take up to three weeks of working three sessions per day, every day. The
long down can be taught in a couple of sessions. It has a totally different focus. It cannot be called a long down unless it is at
least 30 minutes in duration. The dog has on a collar that it can't back out of and a 6' leash is then attached to that collar.
The leash is then run, from left to right over the seat of a solid chair that does not have wheels. The owner then sits on the
chair and the leash. The leash is adjusted so that when the dog decides to lie down there will be gentle upward pressure on
the collar. At no time does the owner touch, look at or talk to the dog. The dog must be wearing collar and leash when doing
this exercise.
The owner must have something else to do during the long down period. Read a book. Play a computer game. Write out all
your complaints about having to do this stupid exercise. Talk to a friend. Eat a meal. Pay some bills. Do some homework. It
really doesn't matter as long as you are doing something. The only time you would acknowledge the dog is to push it away if it
tries to climb into your lap or tries to eat the leg off the chair you are sitting in or some other behavior that is equally
unacceptable. When this happens, you must take whatever physical means necessary to cause the dog to stop the behavior
at once and not resume it at a latter date.
This is an exercise in leadership and dominance. You are supposed to be the dominant one and the leader. As such, you are
the one who decides where the two of you will be and for how long and it is not a voting matter. This is an exercise in
patience. Something every dog must learn if it is to survive to live a comfortable life. There are no maximum time lengths for
this exercise. However, the minimum time is 30 minutes. The exercise should be practiced twice per day, every day. The dog
must be wearing collar and leash when doing this exercise.
After the first couple of days, this is a very calming and soothing exercise for both parties. During the first couple of days a
really determined dog will go through the most amazing series of behaviors. Not only that, they will repeat the series in the
same sequence over and over. When none of the behaviors win them the leadership post they will literally throw themselves
down, give a very loud humph and refuse to look at you. After this period has passed it is all smooth sailing and happy tail
wags.
Again, the long down has nothing in common with a down/stay other than the physical position of the dog. You can NOT leave
a dog that is doing a long down because you are a major part of the picture. You do leave a dog that is doing a down/stay.
You can NOT tell the dog or show the dog how to do the long down. You must give the dog the chance to figure out what the
most comfortable position is going to be. The dog must be wearing collar and leash when doing this exercise.
-Courtesy of Margot Woods, Dog Trainer
