When Training Your Dog The “Down” Command, Be the Stubborn One
Francis Bacon once said, “Nature to be commanded, must be obeyed.” When it comes to training a dog, this saying is very wise indeed. Dogs, as a species, are accustomed to a hierarchy structure of command and leadership. That’s the way they naturally function and would continue to function if we had not domesticated them to be pets. So they are accustomed to a structure where everyone-or every dog-has his place in the pack-from the alpha leader to the bottom or omega dog. When you teach your dog the “down” technique, you are asserting your place as the alpha in the dog’s world.
The Down Technique also has practical benefits. When it relaxes in the down position, the dog is not involved in knocking over furniture and small children. It can also be an introduction to natural succeeding behaviors such as ‘rollover’, ‘crawl’ and other enjoyable tricks.
Training your dog to obey the down command is actually pretty straightforward. Your dog will naturally lie down when he is tired or relaxing. So the first thing to do is study your dog and learn to recognize when he is about to go from a sitting position to a down position.
When this transition is about to occur, you want to give a specific and unique voice command and a hand gesture at the same time. This hand gesture needs to be something you don’t normally do the rest of the time so you don’t confuse the dog. Every time you want to teach a dog a particular behavior, you want to have a distinct and exclusive hand gesture that accompanies that command. Always use a consistent, clear tone of voice so the dog will learn to recognize it.
Following the command and as soon as the point of accomplishment of the behavior is achieved, praise the dog lavishly. At the start, the dog will not have a clear understanding of why it is drawing praise. In point of fact, this does not matter. With the repeating of these actions, the dog’s behavior will result from the command. Don’t forget, it is the correct behavior you are after.
At first your dog probably won’t obey as commanded because he’s not certain what you want. So you will need to be patient and consistent. The best way to teach a new behavior is to work with the dog alone, away from other people and voices and distractions.
Always encourage correct behavior through picking a treat or familiar toy and placing the dog in a sitting position at the same time placing the toy on the floor right near the front of the dog’s nose.
Helping to focus your dog’s attention with the toy or snack, utilize a ‘waving down’ hand motion, with your palm towards the floor position. Be sure to refrain from rewarding any dog with praise or a treat unless the behavior is attained and exactly correct. On the other hand, if things don’t go as planned, be careful not to become angry with the dog.
For a slow to learn or strong-willed dog, it becomes crucial to complement training by using a collar and leash in your strategy. Always use a short nylon or leather leash that is, optimally, about two to four feet. Place your dog in a sitting position and face him while kneeling down.
Now simultaneously make your distinct hand gesture and issue your voice command while moving the toy or treat from a position by the dog’s chin slowly bringing it down to the ground. At the same time, slowly and gently pull on the leash to encourage the dog to go down. Do not tug or pull at the leash or make this a negative experience for the dog in any way.
Sometimes a dog simply will not get it. So here’s another thing to try. Loop the leash around one of the knees on the dog’s hind legs. Bring the other end of the leash under your foot (on the opposite side) where you can move it with your foot. While giving the command and the gesture, slide the leash with your foot so it buckles the dog’s hind knee and gently pull the dog’s two front legs toward you so the dog gently slides into the down position.
Even if you had to initiate the movement to get the dog in the correct position, give the dog lots of praise and attention. The key here is that you want the dog to always associate good and positive feelings-both his and yours-with this position.
Related posts:
- How Best to Teach Your Dog The Command “Down”
- How Do I Teach My Dog To Respond To ‘Down’?
- Be the Headstrong One When Teaching Your Dog The Command ‘Down’
- Teaching Your Dog The Command “Down”
- Training a Stubborn Dog to Come
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Filed under: Dogs
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