Training in a different language...

Since you said 'special' and not all I don't see a problem with it. Even if it was all commands then the only issue would be what would happen if someone else had to take care of your dog and didn't know your commands.

 Actually the only person I'd be likely to leave my Maremma with for any length of time is accustomed to commanding a dog in Italian, but it would just be special ones.  I am thinking ahead to directing, in a productive way, what will be the dog's natural instinct to guard me/DH/Ben, which was never much of a consideration with Ben, who beyond barking when someone knocks at the door has very little protective instinct. There is also the chance I might wind up showing this dog (I am not sure showing really lights my fire, but when you do it with a rare breed it's really more of just a social event) and there would be commands for that that Ben has never needed to learn. 

I find it usefull because my parents first language is spanish and even though they know the words in english its easier for them especially with my mom. They don't really have anything to do with Shailer but I still keep Shailer up to date on his commands in Spanish because I don't know when they will use it. He only knows basic commands in spanish though he doesn't know the other stuff in spanish.

 Living with an LGD means communicating beyond "commands".  Lu is learning how to tell when we want our space.  She's got instincts to be aware of we don't like, in these terms, but she's also being a smidge pushy now (love it!).  She'll get on the bed and just drape herself all over me.  She's HEAVY!  If she wants what we have to eat, she gets right in our face.  This is what she learned being with the sheep for ten years.  Sheep don't mind "sharing".  But I want to teach her it's okay to take food from me, too.

So I'm teaching her to recognize the "no" signals. I'm still trying to figure out how to teach her to move back when we need her to.  I am teaching her that she CAN have food in my hand, if my hand is turned UP.  Not if it's turned down or to the side, like you'd normally have it if you were carrying it around.

That's just for instance.

In the case of the BCs, where they have working specific commands, we dont' need another language because they are trained to those commands and no other dogs have any idea of what those odgs are doig - or care.  :)  So I might be out in the field walking everyone, and see the sheep suddenly make a break for the place in teh fence where they can slip under and go to Sydney's. 

I say, "come bye!"  Only three dogs will leave my feet (and probably only two because Cord ignores me half the time).  The rest will go about their business.  The guard dogs will move with the sheep, Lynn will be off chasing grasshoppers, Maggie will be trotting around looking at birds, and Zhi will be alternating between staying with me and the zoomies in the high grass. 

"Come bye" means nothing to them and it doesn't bother them.  I can even start adking the BCs to LIE DOWN, LIE DOWN, HERE, OFF, BACK, OUT - all of which are commands that the rest know but they know I'm talking to the sheepdogs. 

The sheepdogs can even tell from context which dogs I need to go "Come bye" and which the opposite direction, which I want to stop and which to move - without needing names.  In other words I can work two or three dogs at the same time and most of the time ONLY the dog I need to take the command, will take it, without needing special different cues. 

It all comes from context.  There's competitions where the dogs have to work in pairs and do things that DON'T make sense, and people who do those competitions do have different commands for different dogs.

I hope that makes sense.  I'm not entirely sure sometimes these days.   

 LOL Becca....that does make sense, so don't worry. 

I know it's all about context, the reason behind training certain things in Italian is to benefit ME, not the Maremma, because I'm aware of my own limitations LOL.  I need to approach this training in a different way - as you said, it's more than just being about commands - and I need to trick myself into focusing after having such a very different dog for the past few years.   The Maremma won't know or care that "Basta!" is Italian but "Enough!" is English lol.....and Ben would likely respond to my tone if I gave the Italian version, or ignore me altogether if he thought I was talking to the Maremma.

The point is just to prevent myself from falling into the way I train Ben, to train the new dog, because it won't work, my demeanor needs to be different not only because they are polar opposites in terms of type, but Ben is also grown up and telling him to do anything is a very relaxed affair.  I LOVE the idea of the hand position when giving food, but it would take me a lot longer to train myself to do that alongside a command I already use with Ben, than if I started fresh with a different word.  Using words in a different language will reinforce my focus even more. 

I guess, in a nutshell, using a different language for commands that are new to both of us (myself and the big white dog) is an acknowledgment that we're starting a journey together, and learning together. 

I hope THAT makes sense LOL.  

Benedict

I guess, in a nutshell, using a different language for commands that are new to both of us (myself and the big white dog) is an acknowledgment that we're starting a journey together, and learning together. 

I hope THAT makes sense LOL.  

That makes perfect sense!! I say go for it then. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 I say go for it.  LGDs are the epitome of "adaptable" so experimentation is okay. 

I just use the same thung on Lu, the rare times she needs to be told to quiet, that Idid on Maggie.  She accepts it and Maggie accepts that I'm no longer talking to her.  ;) 

 LOL I think "quiet" will definitely be a command that stays the same, I need it too often in the house already to add another one for the same thing! HA!

At least a Maremma will forgive my shoddy phrasebook Italian. 

I don't think there's anything wrong with training your dog in italian. Many police dogs are trained in german, not because a lot of them are german shepherds but because not a lot of criminals and suspects speak german. If the dogs were trained in english, there's a chance the cirminal could give a command and the dog might obey it. Point being, it has been done and I don't see why you can't do it.

moca and jason both know some commands in german and some in english. it really shows how messed up i am about my languages... but it does work, and the only time it get's weird is when OTHER people try to give commands and i have to teach them. recent example was our obedience class with moca. the trainer kept telling her "down" and moca was looking at her like "what do you want from me, lady?" i kept having to remind her that i have been using german commands on some things... lol...

but if you find people that you CAN trust your dog with, they tend to pick up on the commands easily. my friends all tell my dogs "platz" instead of down... they even give my angry 'donnerwetter' command! lol