Q&A: Obedience “Second Chances,” That One Person Who Makes Your Dog Bonkers, Doorway Sits, and More
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In this Off Leash and Unfiltered Q&A, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—answers five common obedience headaches: dogs that lie down when told to sit, whether you should give “second chances,” what to do when your dog melts down for a favorite guest, why she prefers not to command a sit at doors, and how to handle dogs that put themselves on place and then seem “stuck.” Clear theme: sequence and consistency matter, corrections must be meaningful, and everyday moments (doors, guests, cots) are where reliability is made.
Episode Highlights
- Sit vs. Down mix-ups: Dogs learn sequences; teaching “sit then down” can condition some to auto-down on “sit.” Fix with leash guidance and clean reps—and choose your battles in stressful contexts.
- No “second chances” after training: If the dog knows it, hold them accountable on the first command; repeating teaches delay. Use a decisive leash pop or e-collar follow-through, not nagging.
- That one person = arousal spike: Set guest boundaries, use a tie-back, and raise correction intensity to match the moment; release from place only when fully calm.
- Doorway manners without commands: Expect politeness by default; let the dog choose, then give feedback (tap/pop) instead of cueing “sit” forever. Build a default, not dependence on words.
- Self-placing dogs: Pick a household rule and be consistent—either “on the cot = on place until released,” or remove the cot when not using it to avoid ambiguity.
Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
- 01:19 – Q1: “My dog lies down when I say sit.” Why order-of-operations conditions auto-downs; when to accept vs. when to hold the sit (nervy “pancaking” or pushy dogs).
- 07:36 – Consistency across all contexts; once fluent, correct wrong choices and reward correct first tries.
- 09:24 – Q2: “Should I give warnings/second chances?” Why first-command accountability creates reliability; proofing with e-collar or prong + leash pop.
- 12:15 – Leash-and-prong pop if not using e-collar; avoid devaluing cues by repeating.
- 13:17 – Q3: Dog loses it for a special guest (“Uncle Joe”). Set people boundaries, correct arousal, and use higher levels that matter in that context.
- 21:08 – Expect messy first rep; it improves quickly. Add a tie-back; release from place only when truly settled.
- 23:21 – Q4: “Why not make my dog sit at the door?” Build default manners instead of cue-dependency; allow choice, then give feedback.
- 26:37 – E-collar taps at doors to fade the verbal; expecting polite choices in daily micro-moments.
- 28:41 – Q5: Self-placing & “am I stuck?” Choose clear house rules (100% place if on the cot) or remove the cot to avoid confusion between handlers.
- 31:05 – Consistency across family members prevents commands from devolving into meaninglessness. Wrap & contact.