The joy of sharing your life with a dog is, well, sharing it. The "down" cue is a useful skill for a dog to learn but must be used wisely.
Whether you want to bring your dog to a cafe patio or a friend’s house, or you would like her to be calm around guests, your dog needs to know what to do in these situations. Teaching her to lie down is a useful skill, but care should be taken where and when you ask her to do this particular behavior, because the action of lying down on the ground can be difficult for some dogs both physically and mentally. Lying down on the ground puts the dog in a vulnerable position and some might not feel comfortable doing so. Don't force your dog into this position and be aware of the environment or context you teach this technique, as well as where and when you use it in the real world.
Step 1: Teach your dog to lie down (luring)
- Find a quiet area that your dog is familiar with that has a soft surface, such as a mat, carpet or grass. The dog should feel safe in the area you choose. Get some small, one-bite treats that you know your dog loves. You can start with your dog standing or in a seated position.
- Get a treat and place your hand close to your dog's nose.
- Gradually move the treat down towards her body and then along the floor.
- As you lower your hand your dog will likely follow it and lie down flat as you move the treat along the floor.
- As soon as your dog's belly or chest touches the ground, mark the finished action with a verbal “yes!” and give her the treat.
- Repeat the same exercise several more times, always waiting until your dog’s belly is on the ground before giving the treat. Don't do too many repetitions - be aware of your dog's physical ability and emotional state.
Step 2: Teach your dog to lie down (hand motion without the food lure)
There will be times when you want your dog to lie down when you don’t have a treat in your hand, so it's important to stop using the food lure at some point. You will still reward your dog with food after she lies down.
- Start by luring your dog into the down position with the food in your hand, as you’ve been doing. Repeat this a few times so that your dog knows what behavior to do.
- Then, place the treat in your other hand and place that hand behind your back or clearly out of sight. If you’re using a treat bag, just keep your treats in the bag.
- Next, lower your now empty hand that was previously holding the treat onto the ground, using the same motion as before. Your dog will likely lie down again. When she does, reward her immediately with a treat from your other hand or from your treat bag.
- Repeat this several times, until your dog will quickly lie down when you don’t have a treat in the luring hand.
Step 3: Teach your dog to lie down (add a verbal cue)
When your dog is lying down within a few seconds of placing your hand on the ground, you're ready to add a word, or cue, to associate the cue with the action of lying down.
- Just before moving your hand to the floor, say 'down' and then lower your hand as you did in step 2. Repeat this a few times.
- Next, say 'down' and then watch to see if your dog lowers her belly to the ground in a down position. If she does, give her the treat. If she doesn’t, lower your hand to help guide her.
- Repeat this process a few more times, and continue practicing over a few days. Try new locations: if you’ve been practicing in the kitchen, move to the living room and repeat.
Troubleshooting
- Be sure you’re luring your dog onto a soft surface that is comfortable for the dog to settle on.
- Remove your dog’s harness if she’s wearing one. Your dog might find it uncomfortable when she's on the ground.
- If your dog will not lie down during the training, she might be tired, confused, distracted or uncomfortable. This passive behavior might be too confining for a dog that has a lot of energy while you are teaching. Take a break and try at another time when she's calmer.
- If you're struggling with the lure or just prefer not to use one, you can also teach down using the technique called capturing.
- Some dogs don't feel comfortable lying down in certain environments; try training in a quieter area.
- Lying down and getting up again can be strenuous for some dogs, especially very young, older, and large breed dogs. Practice in short sessions but if you can't get your dog to lie down, it might be because she doesn't feel comfortable or is unable to do so.
- Be patient as you work through the training steps; remember you don’t have to teach the completed behavior in one training session.
