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..