Dog Training: Train Your Dog Down Command

Down command is an integral part of training. It is not enough training your dog to “go”, “sit”, “come”, “stop” commands. You have to teach “down” command as well. It is also an essential command in obedience training. You can use various methods to teach your dog “down” command in dog training.

Teach your dog “Down Command” – Use Food Lure Method

This is an easier way that you can use to teach this command. You can teach this easily by the means of offering a food treat or a piece of kibble. It forces your dog into down position. As it obeys you may reward the dog with the so-called food treat or the piece of kibble.

You may try this approach according to the following steps:

• You may hold a treat in your hand and ask your dog to sit; Treat on your hand eventually creates an instinct in him to sit.
• Let your dog sense the treat, by wagging it inform of its nose and lower it straight down.
• As soon as dog’s belly touches the floor to sit, praise your canine and offer the treat.
• You should repeat this exercise several times.
• Once your dog quickly lies down when you lure him with the treat, tell him the verbal cue, just before the treat is put on the floor.
• When you train your dog accordingly, the dog gradually gets to hang on the “down” command. Then you may begin to offer treats sporadically to your dog- firstly for the quickest, secondly for the crispest and thirdly for the down. Gradually you can eliminate the phases and offer the entire food.

The Alternative, if food luring does not work

How long you have trained your dog though, is not there any progress, does he still keep standing. If your dog keeps standing, hold the treat in your palm and close until he lies down. If your dog tries to lay down on the floor, you may coax him, encourage him to do so. When the belly touches the ground, you may offer the treat.

You may move the treat towards his chest and his back also should come down.

Use Under-the-Leg-Method to Teach “Down”

Let your dog stand in front facing you. You may sit in a posture by keeping one knee up to create a tunnel through which your dog could crawl. Then put your hand through the drawn-up leg. Drag the treat on your hand gradually away from the dog, that you have put under your drawn-up leg. In this case, your dog happens to necessarily lie down to crawl through the tunnel, if they want to get the treat. No sooner his belly touches the ground, offer him the treat. You may repeat the exercise several times. When your dog is lying down, introduce him the verbal cue. Command him “down” before you leave the food on the floor.

Advanced way of teaching down command