my year old english setter

Question
My dog growls whenever you move her when she is sleeping, she likes to sleep on my legs. Also i would like to train her to sit when someone comes up to her and drop something when i ask her.  I have tried the treats and she will do it but only when she sees the treats.  any suggestions

Answer
Hi Deborah,

How old is your dog? Either way, if she growls when you move or you move her some changes need to take place before things escalate into a much bigger problem.

I am (assuming) that she sleeps with you, that you may want to reconsider. Some dogs do fine with it, others do not. It sounds to me like you may want to try not sleeping with her for a month or so to see if things improve.

Consider addressing these points if they are also part of the problem: Is she a picky eater? Do you leave the food down all day? Does she pull on a leash? Does she have any obedience skills?

You can easily teach her to sit when someone comes up to her by putting her greeting on cue and not letting her greet until she does one tiny thing for you first. That would be sit and wait for you to say "Go say hi".

The "trick" to using treats is not produce them until she has completed the task (provided you have shaped the appropriate behaviors first). If she only does it when she sees the treat then it is definitely time to move to a random or variable schedule! Meaning that sometimes she gets a treat (random) and or sometimes she gets something other that what she is expecting (variable). That could be a piece of kibble for a slow or sloppy sit. And a little piece of steak for sitting at the door when the pizza man arrives! In other words keep her guessing!! She will work harder!

You can teach her to drop something on command by using two identical items (like two brand new tennis balls), they have to be identical or she will favor one over the other. Throw one ball as she more or less brings it back produce the other one as she sees it and spits out the first one say OUT and throw the second ball, pick up the first and repeat. Gradually you can fade out the second ball, but most like the two ball game!

I hope these answers help!