Hello, You can absolutely teach a different word. "Hault" or "Stop" are a couple of options. Whether it should be a different word or not depends a lot on how you use Down in every day life. If you are very consistent with always enforcing your Down command, then Down can still be used, but if Down is often used as an optional command, like pup is told Down but then if pup doesn't, and you don't feel like enforcing it in the middle of a crowded room of guests, and you don't go over and make sure pup does it every time, then an emergency word that's always enforced would be best. An emergency come is often used because many people use come casually and don't enforce their dog coming every time or they ask their dog to come for something unpleasant like a bath or to leave the park, so an alternative word is needed for Come. With my own dogs, I only have one word for Come but that's because we have done a lot of off-leash work, where I can expect my dogs to respond to come in an emergency. Do whatever is realistically something you know you personally will enforce best. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Sept. 6, 2022

Hello Anthony, I would work on building his respect, trust for you and impulse control in general. Expect it to feel a bit chaotic at first while his attention span is still short. Impulse control and respect: Working method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5DVPWIWo Crate manners: https://thegooddog.net/training-videos/free-how-to-training-videos/learn-to-train-the-good-dog-way-the-crate/ Thresholds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M Heel article - The turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Heel Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo The above commands use an approach that depends more on your body language, leash pressure, working for life rewards, and spacial awareness - opposed to luring him into positions with treats. when he starts to do better with the above commands and overall focus and listening to you, you can add in lure reward training like the following commands and other things you desire to teach: Sit: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-sit Down https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-to-lay-down Come - Reel In method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall Leave It: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Aug. 13, 2019