Pet Talk Training Course #3 - Down

[elizabethann]

How do you make your dog go down on all fours (on his/her belly)? Do you make your dog go all the way down (like its head has to be on the floor besides his/her belly)? Please share your training ideas on this.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

With Tobey and Archie I have a treat in my hand and pat the floor with it while saying "down". If you keep it just a little bit in front of their noses they get the idea

[borzoimom]

THIS IS NOT how to train a shepherd (!!)- this is how you teach a sighthound to down.. ( you professional trainers are going to roll on the floor with this one..).. I wait until they are standing ( Borzois do not sit ya know.. lol) then I lay down on the floor.. ( I think we just lost applesmom and agilityk9trainer with laughter at this picture..).. They lay right down with you.. lol.. " DOWN.." lol.. Few times of that- you say " down" they lay right down.. lol..
STUPID??? YES!! does it work?? YES!

[luvofallhorses]

I trained my rottie mix in 4-H and I just point to the floor and say down and she lays down.

[Uabassoon]

After going to obidience school TWICE this is still one that we haven't mastered with Payson. I can't for the life of me get him to go down. All he can do is sit!

[borzoimom]

After going to obidience school TWICE this is still one that we haven't mastered with Payson. I can't for the life of me get him to go down. All he can do is sit!

Got a stubborn one huh? Okay try this- ( I had a stubborn dobie once) .. I would have her sit in front of a couch so her butt was against it.. Let her see a treat- cup it in your fist- go slightly OVER her head.. ( yes over- i will say why in a second) then drop it down and slightly towards you.. She will go right down.. After a few of these- they have it..
I said over the head first because that pulls the shoulders up and forward- it would be harder to stay in a sit, and they have to callapse the shoulders.. POOF instant down..

[critter crazy]

hmmm...gonna have to try this one!! rocky knows down very well, however Duke just stares at me and wags his tail! he only knows sit!

[borzoimom]

hmmm...gonna have to try this one!! rocky knows down very well, however Duke just stares at me and wags his tail! he only knows sit!

In a dog class- the teacher stands right behind the dog.. Also down is not said when they are down- as you are teaching the movement here.. As the dog starts to move forward and down- that is when you say it- AND JUST ONCE UNTIL they are all the way down- then praise..

[critter crazy]

OMG!!! Duke Did it!! And he stayed!! I am so Proud of my Boy!!! He did very well, it only took us Two tries!! OMG!!!!


and of course we did sit as well!

He looks so cute!!

[critter crazy]

with his butt agains the couch, he got it, so we moved over to the middle of the floor, and did just as well!! now i just have to get him to keep his head down. he he he he! i just love that look!

[borzoimom]

with his butt agains the couch, he got it, so we moved over to the middle of the floor, and did just as well!! now i just have to get him to keep his head down. he he he he! i just love that look!

See- it works- and putting the cupped hand over their head slightly first will straighten the shoulder.
This method works for the real stubborn ones.. lol. ( I love his ears!!! lol.. give him a kiss from me!)

[critter crazy]

See- it works- and putting the cupped hand over their head slightly first will straighten the shoulder.
This method works for the real stubborn ones.. lol. ( I love his ears!!! lol.. give him a kiss from me!)

Thanks it worked fabulous! I love his ears too, but my favorite feature, is all that excess skin flopping on his neck!! he he he he he he! My dog has like twenty Chins!!