Position box to sharpen Position Changes
Position changes in dog obedience refer to the commands that require the dog to change from one position to another, such as from a sit to a down, or from a stand to a sit. These position changes are an important part of dog obedience training, and they are typically included in obedience competitions.
The most common position changes in dog obedience include:
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Sit: The dog sits with their hind legs on the ground and their front legs straight.
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Down: The dog lies down on the ground with their head up.
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Stand: The dog stands upright on all four legs.
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Heel: The dog stands next to their handler's left side with their shoulder even with the handler's left leg.
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Finish: The dog comes to the handler's left side and sits straight next to the handler, facing forward.
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Front: The dog comes to the handler and sits directly in front of them, facing them.
Using a position box can be a helpful tool to improve position changes in dog obedience:
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When introducing the box to your dog you guide them in, they feel the front lip and that’s where you stop and reward.
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Having the lip at the front conditions your dog to change position but not take a step back or forward.
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In position changes such as from a sit to down to stand the aim is for your dog to keep their front legs stationary, the open back end facilitates this by only allowing your dog’s back end to move
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The box is designed with narrow sides, which prevent your dog from resting on their hip keeping their posture 'sharp'.
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Approaching from all angles you can teach your dog to get into position: heel, finish, front sit
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2 in 1 flip over to use as a platform, useful if you want the dog to target the position with drive and not decelerate due to the sides.
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About the author: Hi 👋 I’m Emma, accredited as a professional dog trainer by the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT). I help owners of energetic dogs achieve the dog-owning life they envisioned by providing robust obedience & agility training for dogs across my two venues in Balsham and Barton, near Cambridge.
Disclaimer: The content of this article does not include personalised advice and is for information purposes only. If you need individual advice or other enquiries please click here to get in contact or if you're not local to Anglian Dog Works, you can find a trainer in your area by going to the IMDT website: https://www.imdt.uk.com/find-a-qualified-imdt-trainer