training all at once

[Maxy24]

Is it OK to train a dog several commands at once or would that be too confusing? I'm trying to train my Uncle's dog a bunch of commands. So far I have taught her "down" VERY well and she knows roll over, high five and we're working on "dance" (jump around on back legs). Rollover, high five and dance are not perfected yet but she knows the hand signals and does them if I have food. I was wondering if it was ok to work on all of them in the same session or if I need separate sessions. Also is it OK just to be teaching her so many things so fast (as in introducing all these new commands within a couple of days) even if they were in different sessions? I just don't want her getting bored with a command and mostly I want to make sure she is learning the command not just repeating the same action over and over no matter what signal or word I use (like if I were teaching her "down" but she still goes down when I say "sit" or something like that).

 

[Brandyb]

It all depends on the individual dog. Some get overwhelmed by mutiple lessons in one, others thrive on it. A high energy, intense dog such as a border, JRT or malinois will most times thrive on multiple lessons in one, and differing lessons - they are highly intelligent, and get bored easily. On the other hand, say a mini dachshund or other hound (sight or sent), who has a little less of an attention span, less learning drive, may become overwhelmed by too much at once, and shut down. These types learn better one at a time (this, of course is not true of every individual in the breeds listed above, this is just an example - it all depends on the individual dog).
Watch so signs of stress during training ... if you don't see any, you should be fine with what you are doing.

 

[RD]

When I'm in the middle of teaching a command, I try to only reinforce that behavior until I can put a cue to it. I've found that it makes it easier for the dog to understand what I want, and they learn more thoroughly.

With the border collies, they usually have a grasp of a command within 3-4 tries, so it's easier to move on quickly. I'm training a coonhound this week that is still figuring out "sit". Sweet dog, though.

 

[dogs_rox]

its generally better to go slow with a dog. teach him one commmand at a time, or a maximum of two to three if he seems intelligent and catches on quickly. more than that would overwhelm and confuse him, making him learn slower.

 

[Doberluv]

I've always worked on 2 or 3 things at a time....skipped around. It gets boring doing the same old thing over and over. As the dog learns HOW to learn, you can even do a few more things, maybe breaking it up between sessions. You're doing great.

 

[hbwright]

If we don't jump around in training Jordan doesn't even wait for commands. If he sees me with the clicker he sits. When I walk up to him he goes down. If I don't respond he'll sit up and look at me expecting a stay. I always try to keep him on his toes to where he doesn't expect anything. There are things that I want him to learn by habit, sit when we halt on a walk, etc. but others that I want him to obey my command.