How to Clicker Train your Dog to Lay Down

Learn how to train your dog to lay down. Is there anything better than a well behaved dog?

The dog will be referred to as a male named Fido.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clicker
• Treats
• Dog who knows "Sit"

1. Get your dog into the sitting position. If Fido doesn't know how to do this please teach him using my "How to Clicker Train your Dog to Sit".

2. Put a piece of kibble to his nose. Take the kibble straight down between his front paws. He will instinctively lay down to follow the food. As soon as he hits the floor, click and treat.
   
   If for some reason he doesn't follow it all the way, that's ok. Click and treat whenever Fido first motions to lay down. Make him go down further every time to get a click (and a treat).
   
   Make Fido lay down several times using this technique, clicking and treating every successful attempt.

3. Now, add the verbal command "down" as you follow step #2. Click and treat. Do this several times.

4. Slowly, go from taking the food from his nose to the ground to pointing to the ground. Fido should follow along nicely. It is ok to use verbal commands at this time also. Click and treat every time.

5. Fido should be able to lay down with just pointing to the floor and commanding "down". Remember to click and treat every time. Practice at night for a few minutes with kibble from his dinner.

6. Congratulations. Fido knows how to lay down.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to look at all of my clicker training technique articles.
• Click & Treat every single time Fido does what you want him to do.