[MyPemCharlie]

After last weekend, I decided to do Charlie's basic obedience training myself. So far, we're really solid on Sit, Down, and Wait. This week we've starting to add "Stand", and my little guy just can't figure out what I want.

Charlie can be just so intently focused on me, and we do Sit...good boy...Down...good boy...Sit...good boy...Down...good boy...Stand. Oops! "What does stand mean???" He's trying so hard and seems to be thinking "I'd do whatever, but I don't know what the heck you're asking."

I'm using hand signals with vocal commands, and lots of praise for the right behavior. I've tried added body language, like raising my eyebrows, standing on my toes, with a happy "Up, up, up", hoping he'll stand for a "Good Stand" praising. Not working, but he does give me the head tilt to tell me I'm looking like a silly clown performing for him. LOL

I've tried walking over to him while he's doing a good Sit and gently lifting up his rear end to get him on his feet with a "Good Stand!" When I do that, he looks at me like I'm punishing him (not good), so I quit trying that one after two times.

He has learned everything so far off leash, so today I tried two of our short training sessions on leash. I gave a gentle tug from Sit and said "Stand", which did make him stand up, but he also came toward me like Come.

To me "Stand" is the least important obedience command, but he'll have to know it to get passed into Intermediate Obedience and Sports next year.

Any tips or tricks of the trade? If not, I'm hoping over the next several days a little light bulb will go off in his cute puppy head and he'll "get it".