Dog training: 'Down'

The 'down' command is a staple of training a dog, and is a must. This article will help you to get your dog underway with the 'down' command, and uses some of the technique adapted from 'Secrets to Dog Training', the top selling ebook on dog training. 

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‘Down Dog!’

This lesson is best taught outside, in a open area your dog trusts, free from ALL distractions. An quiet park, or your back yard is really ideal.

Start by gaining your dogs attention with a favourite, yet small treat (cut up cheese, chicken or sausage perhaps). We want to start by getting him standing in front of you.. Hold a reward in front of him, then move it slowly down to the ground in front of him, but far away to know he cant have it. Restrain the dog if you need to. Now say your 'down' command that you wish to use, both voice and hand movement and repeat it until he understands and lays down.

After he lies down, let him have his treat by moving it to him, as he is lying down.

You dont want him to get hold of the reward, until he has completed the whole motion. Dont reward him for a half job. Often, the dog wont know what to do first off. Coax him down by hand, and reward him when hes lying to satisfaction. Keep this up until your dog knows he has to lie right down before getting the treat handed to him. It shouldnt take very long if he is hungry!

Once the dog confidently lies down, next hold the food a couple of inches off the ground away from him. What we want to achieve is the dog lying down, anticipating the treat!

This will confuse him first off until you motion him down, and reward when he does the proper lie down action. 

After practise of this, start giving the ‘down’ command (hand motion and voice instruction) before you present the treat to lead the dog down.

Gradually, you should now wean the dog off the treat, so that he responds to a simple downward motion of your hand and a 'down' call. Hold the reward further and further away from him, and reduce the praise each time as you give it to him. Get him to accept your praise as reward for following the hand and voice command.

You can get to the rest of our great articles and read the end of this one, at my website www.dog-hobbyist.com

Also be sure to check out ‘Secrets to Dog Training‘ for a huge array of amazing dog training techniques, behaviour fixes and keeping/feeding/owning instructions. One the market for $39.00, Its the best investment you will ever make in terms of raising a happy dog!