The Down Position - When you start to train your puppy or an older dog, enrol with a Dog Training Club, where your progress can be monitored and problems stopped before they become mountains!

Teaching the "Down"

This method of teaching Down is simple and rewarding for you and your dog. Make sure you are on your own with no distractions. Start with your puppy from 6 weeks onwards. The best way is with treats - incorporate the 'come' and 'sit' with this exercise. The reason for this is because the dog will be relaxed and already eager to please as you have already rewarded him (with treats and fuss).

Call your dog - reward him, then sit him - reward him. Then show the dog his treat and slowly move your hand down to the floor. Gently press on the dogs' shoulders to encourage him to follow the treat into the down position. Reward him, stroke him commanding soothingly 'Down', keep repeating the command to a count of five, finish and reward.

Keep your voice calm and once he is down, stay with him and sooth him. Your dog will soon learn that there is pleasure with this position. With young energetic dogs, tickle their tummy! This can relax them.

Do not stand up to start with, as this can be a signal to move with you. Then you have to start all over again. Keep the dog down to a count of five and release.
When the dog is laying quite happily on command, then start to stand very slowly. If the dog follows you up, slowly push him back down.
Start to use the 'down' command as often as you use 'sit'. Start to alter your commands - sometimes when you call your dog, make his first position 'down'. This brings variety into your training.

For some unknown reason, handlers can become very loud and threatening, sometimes bellowing in the dog's ears. This frightens the poor thing and all it wants to do is run! The handler gets louder - the dog starts to resist. Then a battle of strength begins. Determined looks on both faces, who will win?

Then the wrestling match begins. Legs being pulled all over the place, tails being grabbed, the handler ending up lying on top of his dog! A triumphant look on the dogs face. (Oh, HAPPY DAYS!) For some dogs, this position can be very stressful. Some dogs will fight and resist you, some dogs will growl and complain and will bare their teeth. If this happens, you must seek advice. A training school or some other qualified professional. I stress QUALIFIED.

DO NOT
Do not smack your dog or lose your temper if your dog is sometimes a little slow to go down, especially the young dog, sometimes he will have his mind on other things.

How would you feel if when told to do something, you were not as quick as normal and were abused, smacked and forced to move quicker! Aggressive behaviour towards your dog/puppy is very rarely needed.

DO NOT BULLY YOUR DOG!

Do not rebuke your dog if he does not respond straight away to 'Down'.
It is a complex position for your dog and it must always end up being a rewarding experience for him.

Do not start to use 'Down' as your 'Bad Dog' command.

A lot of owners will bellow 'Lie Down' if the dog has done something wrong - and then they wonder why the dog is so unhappy when they try to teach 'Down'!

DO'S
Do start to slowly decrease your treat reward when he is going 'Down' on command.

Focus more on your voice and hands as the reward. The reason for this is because I would like him to respond to your voice and to respond to you and for him to want to please you.

Give him a treat for every other 'Down'.

Put the 'Come' 'Sit' and 'Down' together and reward him with a really tasty treat after doing ALL THREE.

But make sure you fuss and praise him for each individual position.

'Down' is one of those training exercises that has both behavioural and psychological links. The 'Down' position actually means something to the dog.

Most of the other positions mean nothing at all, apart from the fact that if they adopt the desired position, they will get a reward.
The 'Down' position can cause problems and some dogs will show aggression if forced to go down - I will explain why:

The first thing you need to understand is what the 'Down' position means to the dog. When dogs and puppies play, it is the one who is down on the floor with the other one standing over him that is the loser. When dogs spar or play fight, again the one on top is the winner. When dogs fight, the one on top of the dog's neck is the challenger, so you can imagine with some dogs, when you bend over them pressing on his shoulders, you are in a challenging position and some dogs will resist you, even warn you.

This does not necessarily mean that he is aggressive, but confused. His response is instinctive, just as he would to a dog on the back of his neck, which is why your voice should be calm and a nice tasty treat as the incentive. This helps the dog to understand that there is no threat.

Some breeds can resist the 'Down'. Some dogs dislike going down in the company of other dogs. Some of the Terriers will fight the 'Down'. The large guarding breeds can also find this position threatening; he is vulnerable, he cannot defend himself, or you. You have to be very confident and firm with these dogs. Weak handlers will struggle.

Nervous dogs find the 'Down' very distressing and you need to be calm but sometimes firm to get them to settle. Always praise and reassure them when down.

Generally, there are very few problems with 'Down', but this at least gives you some understanding of what you are asking of your dog.

© Janet Wesley