How do you teach a dog to "down"?

Question

I've tried pushing her into the down position but she thinks I'm going to hurt her and gets all worked up and yips. I've tried having her sit and then gently pulling her front feet forward and out from under her, but she pulls her feet away and stands up. I've also tried having her sit, and then holding a treat in front of her, but down near the floor so she has to hopefully get into the "down" position to get at it, but she stands up and tries to get it. I've also tried saying "Down. Good girl!" when she lays down on her own, but I think that method will take forever. Any suggestions for teaching "down" to a dog like mine who's a little antsy about being touched too much? Thanks.

Answer 1

you really are doing the right things, just keep at it. Down is hard (not as hard as "here" when other dogs are around but it's no sit). It's ok to wrestle a little to get them down, just praise them a ton when they do it. Make sure you do an audio and visual cue the same each time. Get her to sit then put one hand on the back side and pull those front legs, don't let her fight and whine. If she does just keep doing it. You have to be more stubborn than the dog.

Answer 2

You've tried the basic methods that I would have recommended - perhaps your technique is a little off?

SGBMF gave you excellent advice - if that doesn't work, get a trainer or go to obedience classes. Some dogs need specialized techniques that have to be explained in person depending on the dog's reaction.

First, let me warn you. Many of the people charging big bucks as "trainers" are not very good and may have no more experience than you do - especially with difficult problems. Ask you local vet for a recommendation. Make sure you check out references from their satisfied customers. Check with the BBB for complaints. Look for a trainer who is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals web site at www.dogpro.org, which allows you to search for trainers in your state. Their requirements for trainers to join are very stringent. And DON'T send your dog away to be trained. It's a waste of money - you can't build a relationship with a dog that doesn't live with you.

you should read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 3

two suggestions. One: with the dog in the sitting position, take the treat and lower down and between the two front legs while saying the comand. This was the first way I trained my dog and it worked. Second: I took my girl to obedience school. Their method was this. Have the dog sit, then squat behind the animal while holding the treat in front of them to keep their attention. Say the command, and if they don't obey (which from what you've written it sounds like your's will not), reach forward, take the front paws in you hands, and gently lift and pull the paws forward while laying down on the dog to put them in the "down" position. This last method can also help you establish yourself as the alpha. Always reward with a treat and affection in the early training stages too. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Never give her the treat unless she stays down.....incorporate the command "stay" into the training before she gets the treat too. You have to provide negative reinforcement sometimes too, if she is not "getting it" by a system of rewards alone. It will take some time for a dog to be trained to do certain things, just because they picked "shake" in one or two days doesn't mean they will learn everything else at the same speed. It takes constant and consistent training.

Answer 5

Use a leash to train her. Have her on a sit position and then say down, and pull the leash towards the floor. Once she is down, give her a treat. At the beginning she doesn't need to do it right. Just a small attempt will be enough.

Answer 6

is your dog old enough to understand what your asking her, some dogs it takes alot of patience to do your bidding, our dog had obiedience classes,and the traing helped in the tricks later on now she sits on command speaks when asked and lies down on command also roll over which isnt an easy task for dogs, thats when she was 6 months old now she is 5 years and loves to do tricks it has become a game to her she even likes to play hid-n-seek with her treats, we put her in a room behind closed doors and we hide her treats, then we open the door and out she runs to find the treats usually she finds them all sometimes she'll find all but 1, she's getting really good at it to. I'm also trying to teach her how to shut doors, thats a hard one for her, but I think she likes the challenge of it, cause now she'll sit by an open door waiting for the command to shut, unless I say something else to , she"ll just sit and wait.

Answer 7

Try hand signals.
Lay your hand flat on the Floor in front of her.
Hopefully she will go 2 your hand, keep repeating "down" B firm & she should get it evenually.
Sometimes it's quick other times it takes a while.

Answer 8

You covered everything that I tried with an alpha-dog. The combination of those worked for me. Maybe persistence?

Answer 9

For me pulling the feet did it. You just have to keep doing it and giving her treats. yes it does get time consuming but if you want her to do it then you have to be persistant with it. she will finally get it! Good luck with that...

Answer 10

Personally, I would try giving her a little nudge to sit down, and then giving her a treat.