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Positive Dog Training Tips and Basic Behavior Cues

How to Train Your Dog to Lay Down

Many people tend to tell their puppies “down” when they want them to get 4 on the floor, then they turn around and say “down” when they want them to lie down. The important thing to think about in this situation is that you have two behaviors; one to get 4 on the floor and one to lie down. That would mean that you need two separate words.

For me, “down” means for my dog to lie down. So, if he were to jump up on the sofa and I asked him to “down” he would lie down on the sofa. If on the other hand, he jumped up on the sofa and I asked him to “off” he would get 4 back on the floor.

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Teaching a Dog to Lay Down

Level 1~

• Start with your dog in a sitting position.
• Hold your puppy’s treat right at his nose, slowly move your hand straight down toward the floor. Be patient!
• As soon as your puppy’s front elbows hit the ground say “YES!” and treat. Repeat

Level 2~

• Start with your dog in a sitting position.
• Remove the food lure from your hand and repeat your hand lure from level 1
• As soon as your puppy’s front elbows hit the ground say “YES!” and treat (treat was in your opposite hand). Repeat

Level 3~

• Same set up as level 2, but say your Down cue right before you drop your hand to the floor.
• As soon as your puppy’s front elbows hit the ground say “YES!” and treat (treat was in your opposite hand). Repeat

Level 4~

• Now, on your next trial, say your Down cue, this time only dropping your hand lure halfway down (not all the way to the floor). You are slowly going to lessen your luring to the ground.

Adding Distractions-when you are asking your puppy to work on his down behavior around distractions such as being outside, around guests or other puppies, you must start the training process over at Level 1 and rebuild. Just like you taught him to sit around distractions earlier. He must learn this process just like he was learned it in the living room.

***Article from Proactive Puppy Care: Preventing Puppy Problems.