Teaching your dog how to lay does not have to be complicated. There are several dog training tricks that you can use to speed up the process and really teach your dog how to lay down when it is appropriate. A dog that just follows your commands will tend to do what you want without questioning your authority or judgment. However, if you have an undisciplined dog that barks, scratches or chews on things when you don’t want it to, then it is not doing anything you want it to do. In this article, we will discuss dog training tricks that will both teach your dog how to lay down and keep him from doing those things that are not in his best interest.
The first dog training trick we are going to cover is one that is not as funny as it sounds: teaching your dog how to lay down. To train your dog to lie down, start by sitting on the dog’s bottom. If your dog begins to jump, back away as far as possible and ignore him for about three times. This tells the dog that you are no longer willing to tolerate his behavior and that he needs to stop. When he stops, praise him and give him a pat and some love.
Your dog’s bottom is the most sensitive area on its body. This is what you will be touching and feeling when you approach it. Be sure to touch and feel it gently. When you see that his bottom is nice and comfortable, begin working on how to teach a dog to lay down by rubbing his belly with your hand. Try to avoid rubbing your hand too hard as this could hurt your dog. You can try rubbing his legs, too, but remember to be gentle.
Hold your hand at chest level and begin to rub your dog’s bottom with your palm upward. Keep your fingers loose so you don’t get stuck on your dog’s back or tail. Keep up your rhythm and continue to rub your dog’s belly for about 10 strokes per minute. As you begin to see that he is enjoying it, slow the pace down. Continue this how to teach a dog to lay down for many repetitions until he lays down comfortably.
Once you have worked out your dog’s entire bottom, move onto his side. Again, begin at his belly and work your way up to his hindquarters. This may take some time, especially for younger dogs, but be patient. As you learn how to teach a dog to lay down, you will find that your dog will cooperate with you as long as you are gentle with him. Once you have taught your dog how to lay down on his stomach, begin to move your hand from his tummy to his rear end.
Slowly lift your dog’s rear end up off the ground and begin petting him while he lays down. After you pet him, begin rubbing his stomach again. If your dog responds to your commands, begin petting and rubbing in circular motions around his entire body. Be sure to keep a firm grip on his rear end until he has settled. If your dog protests, stop and try again later. Patience is key when learning how to teach a dog to lay down.
Once your dog is comfortable laying down on his stomach, begin to move his rear end toward you. Gently guide your dog toward you and praise him when he lies down. Continue this process until you feel that your dog has completely made the transition to lying down on your shoulders. Once he has reached that point, gently lift him up and begin petting him again.
Once you have worked with your dog for several weeks, it will be time to move on to the next step of how to teach a dog to lay down. You can continue with petting and rubbing but be sure to give your dog a chance to get used to you on his hind quarters. It is important not to force your dog to lie down until he feels comfortable. As long as you remain persistent and consistent, your dog will eventually learn how to lay down on your shoulder.
