Training pup to remain in "down: position - Page 2

pffttt.

Exception to the rule doesn't change the rule.  One person out of how many?

Lets rephrase your statement to what it really means. 

When I got GSD's I found that food rewards were no longer necessary as those dogs seemed to want to please me

means that I expect them to work and if they don't then I will force them to.  I.E. pushing a four month old puppy down to the ground.  Start them young when you can still overpower them. 

Demeaning is a human term applied to dogs.  She found dogs that worked to her style.  So what? 

Your right, Pavlov had it all wrong. As do all those other trainers out there like Gary Hanrahan who has been to the WORLD championships more than any other US competitors.

Poor Pavlov, he never really knew he was such an idiot until the internet spawned all these keyboard trainers.

LOL. ....WOW!!! Whatever you say bczc.

the Winifred Gibson Strickland who wrote "Expert Obedience Training For DOGS" advocates the use of food. e.g., page 39: "... persuade him to Sit Up by holding a choice morsel of food ..." or p 214: "... try it again and be quick to help him Drop. Then give him a  food reward ...". 

Wanna compare heeling videos????

You advocate contrary to all established principles because your too _____________ (fill in the blank) to finish the training.

Then you slant everything to negative (bribing, demeaning, no will to serve (which is a mess of a term on it's own)) and act surprised when it's pointed out.

You make inane comments about not using food to train with since you can't take it into a competition with you. 

You make so many patently false statements that expose your lack of experience at training and yet you want your voice to be the one of reason and advice.

Don't be so surprised then when your falsehoods are pointed out to you.

LOL, case in point.  I can talk specifics and details and theory and practicality of how to train and you......cry.  Glad you make such a salient point.

Just saw what Bebo wrote.  WAY too funny.  Thanks Bebo.  So much for the no food and it's bribing and demeaning argument. 

Kinda makes my point about falsehoods. 

Buy her book and read it. She did not use food when training her dogs for OB competition. She taught her dogs to do many tricks using food - to carry her groceries, to climb ladders, to carry her suitcase. If you read her book you'd know that. Never for competition training. Isn't that what we're talking about? I knew her and bred dogs that trained with her. No food treats in any of her classes period. Ask anyone who trained in any of her OB classes. 

Using food for sitting and downing?  Not much of a "trick".   And it's all contrary to what you already posted,

"She never used food rewards, said it was demeaning to the dog to bribe with food. Many OB titles and a record for the most 200 OB scores with her GSL Jal."

So it's demeaning to use food in obedience but it's not demeaning when it's for tricks???  Is this what the dogs told someone?? How does that make any sense to any thinking person?

And her book as quoted is using food for sitting up from a down and for going to a down.  Hate to break the news to you but those are obedience exercises and not tricks.

The hole keeps getting deeper. 

i was under the impression that the OP asked how to best add duration to the down for a FOUR months old pup.