Puppy Training Tips – Teaching Down On Command
You can teach your dog to lie down (”Down”) as soon as it has learned the command “Sit” properly. For this, let the dog “Sit” and then give the command “Down.” Then gently pull the dog’s front paws forward to maneuver it into a lying position.
Your other hand rests on the dog’s hindquarters to prevent it from crawling away backward. At the same time, give the command “Down.” If the dog stays down, reward it immediately. To teach this command to a dominant dog will require some doing, because this brings it into a subordinate position. Whatever happens, avoid a struggle, but do not give in too easily.
Dogs that appreciate food can be taught this command in a different way. You hold a tasty morsel in your firmly clenched fist in front of its nose. Your dog cannot see the food, but it can smell it. First, tell the dog to “Sit” and then give the command “Down.” Push it down gently with your other hand to indicate what you want.
You can encourage your puppy, but remember that it is not “Good” until it is lying down. The lower the dog goes the more your hand opens. Once the dog is really lying down, you open your hand completely and it can eat the tidbit. At first, it is enough when your dog lies down just for a moment; later, you can require it to stay lying down until you give it the “Okay.”
“Stay” On Command
Staying on command implies that your dog has to stay exactly in the place where it is when you give the command. Basically, the dog can be lying down, sitting, or standing, but in the beginning it is easier to learn this from a sitting or lying position.
Have your dog sit at your left side and put it on the leash. Ensure that you have your pup’s undivided attention and give it the command “Stay.” You can then take a step forward or sideways, but keep the dog on the leash. If the puppy remains sitting, reward it at once. It is then a “Very good” dog. If it gets up at once – and most of them do – say “No!” and position it at exactly the same place again, after which you repeat the command and step away again. Some dogs are very stubborn, so keep on trying and do not give up too soon.
“Stay” Is Stay
Later, you can practice this command off the leash. Do it in a quiet, green area though, where the dog cannot just walk away, and only after it properly obeys the command “Here.” Take note, however, that your dog must not discontinue a command of its own accord. So always give “OK” at the end of the exercise. How soon you give the OK depends on the dog’s capabilities and age but, as a rule, young pups are easily distracted and you cannot expect them to remain lying down for more than a couple of seconds before they get up again. Avoid this by giving the dog “OK,” or “Alright,” or whatever word you are going to use, fairly soon.
Some dogs have a tendency to “cheat.” They creep toward you or walk on a bit and then lie down or sit again. Be consistent about not accepting this.
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