How to teach your dog to LAY DOWN

In this article you will learn how to teach your dog the to lay down.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A dog
• Treats
• Patience
• Area with no distractions

1. To teach your dog the down or lay down command refer to my "How to teach your dog to properly SIT. Start by using your left hand with the "luring" treat to get their attention.
   From a stand position, push the treat towards their face forcing them back and bring it down in a diagonal angle to the ground. Their nose and body should follow your movement to the ground. Reward them using your right hand with a new treat and give the "good" or "yes" word.

2. Reward many times as they continue to lay down. Drop treat after treat between their front paws while saying "good" or "yes" over and over.
   If they get up, STOP treating and start over.

3. Next step is adding a hand signal or a cue. To get them to understand that you are teaching this choose a hand signal you want to be your command for SIT. I choose to put my right hand in a fist and hold it up about chest high. Do that and say sit. Keep repeating this motion and the word till they soon will be able to sit without you even saying the word.

4. Release the dog from the Down position and reward!
   Do this for 3-5 mins twice a day. Any longer might cause your dog to become bored and not listen at all. Good Luck!

Tips & Warnings

• You can help force the lay down by using you right hand and placing it on their back to make them understand what it is you want. Do not do this more than once after they seem to understand the command "down".
• Remember not to use the "luring" treat after a few trials with it.
• Be sure to use release words to release the dog. This will help when you learn the STAY command.
• If your dog doesn't seem to be listening, you may be moving on to fast. Go back a step!
• Start with no distraction and work your way up to doing it with lots of distraction.
• Make sure the dogs eyes are focused on YOU not the treat when you are rewarding them when you say "good" or "yes".
• Reward with different rewards and treats. Same ole' same ole' gets boring.
• Work on distance (stepping away and having them stay down), and duration (length of time they stay down).

Resources

• Diggity Dog Pets

[mfahrney]

on 8/8/2009 Great teaching tips...thanks!

[momofmop]

on 8/3/2009 Another great article!

[pkwj]

on 8/1/2009 Great information! I am currently teaching this to my 14 week old puppy - thanks for the tips.