Dog Training Tips: How To Train Your Dog To Lay Down
Once your dog has become accustomed to lying down while you are taking out the garbage or bathing him, you can begin dog training courses in which to teach him other skills. First, let’s start with lying down. Your dog will need to learn how to lie down before he begins to train his dog to lay down. However, sleeping is usually the final step toward laying down, so it is important that your dog learns how to lie down on command.
The first thing you should do when your dog does not seem to understand the first step, is to give him a verbal cue. Some common verbal cues are “down”, “stay”, and “heel”. Other breeds of dog may respond better to treats or rewards. You will have to experiment with these different types of dog training tactics until you find the perfect combination to get your dog to do the right thing.
When your dog is hesitant to lie down and starts to get confused and frustrated, begin by standing in front of him with your hand under his head and then touch his nose. He may initially feel a strong urge to urinate, but this is normal. When he has calmed down, begin the process of luring him to the ground by slowly moving closer. Praise your dog when he lands on the ground.
Next, you will want to teach your dog to follow your command to “lie down”. You will do this by putting your foot in between his legs so that his back becomes lined up with your leg. Start this process by moving closer to him and making your voice be heard over him. Do not move forward until he has begun to stand still.
When he starts to get confused and refuse to stand position, give your dog a sit. Again, make sure that your voice is heard over his head. When your dog starts to lie down again, you will need to stay in the sitting position until he has sat down. Repeat these steps as many times as you need to in order for your dog to understand and know how to behave properly when you say the word “sit”. As he gets more comfortable with the process, you can begin teaching him to stand and walk properly.
In order to start to lure your dog into the proper sitting and lying position, begin with a clicker. Give your dog a treat when he lies down. The clicker will help him learn that lying down results in a treat and that he needs to get down to do this. If he does not lie down immediately, give him the treat and try again the next time you are out. Eventually, he will lie down immediately when given the click.
You should begin to notice some changes in your dog’s body language when you practice this with him on a regular basis. He will begin to look nervous and anxious if he hears you say the word “sit” and he will turn his entire body toward you in order to see what you are doing. Eventually, he will understand that you mean business and will eagerly sit when you say the word. After practicing this method on a daily basis for several weeks, you will finally begin to see results and your dog will begin to listen to you perfectly!
The next part of how to train your dog to lie down is to add a lure movement to the mix. You want to make sure your dog associates the phrase “down” with something positive such as a treat or praise. To lure movement, you will want to hold a treat up in front of him while saying the word “down”. If he picks up the treat, give him the treat and praise him. If he ignores you, simply remove the lure from his line and begin the step two by putting him in a standing position so he can see you.
The third step is to begin saying the phrase while taking a snapshot photo of your dog while standing. Your dog should be at your feet, facing you. Keep talking until your dog calms down. After calming down, take the same photo and say the phrase while making an OK sign with your hand. Hold the dog close to you and give him a big hug while saying “down”.
The final step is to move your dog into a standing position. Have him walk forward until he is about one foot behind you, in a comfortable position on your feet. In this standing position, you will need to begin saying the phrase while looking him in the eye while holding the tasty treat in your hand. When he stays still and follows your instructions, give him the tasty treat and praise him.
