Is Your Dog Too Headstrong to Learn “Down”

“Nature to be commanded, must be obeyed” was a well-known statement of Francis Bacon. This way of thinking is nowhere more true than when it comes to training dogs. Dogs will have a natural tendency to seek out and stick with a hierarchy structure with a leader (alpha) at the uppermost of the pack and all the way down to an omega at the bottom. That is why the ‘Down’ command is unquestionably helpful for supporting your status as alpha.

Functionally, it is good for your dog to know and obey the down command. This can save your furniture from getting battered about and small children from getting knocked down. It’s also a good start for your dog to learn additional commands such as “crawl” or “roll over” or even tricks.

You should use a straightforward approach to training a dog to obey the down command. First, watch for the dog’s natural transition into a down position. When a dog relaxes, he will naturally go from sitting to lying in the down position. You want to watch for that point when the dog is sitting and then starts to go into that position by himself.

When you see this happen you should deliver a distinct and exclusive vocal command and hand sign combination. Each and every behavior pattern should always be connected with an exclusive hand signal that is not used normally throughout the day. It is also important to use a clear, fixed word and tone.

Following the command and as soon as the point of accomplishment of the behavior is reached, praise the dog generously. At first, the dog will not have a clear conception of why it is receiving praise. Really, this is not important. With repetition of these maneuvers, the dog’s behavior will result from the command. Remember, it is the correct behavior you are after.

Initially, the dog will not likely perform as desired because he does not know what you want. It is important to be patient, clear, specific, and consistent. It also helps to do this when other people are not nearby and you have alone time with your pet and when there are few other distractions like noise and movement to divert the dog’s attention.

Always encourage correct behavior through picking a treat or familiar toy and placing the dog in a sitting position at the same time placing the toy on the floor near to the front of the dog’s nose.

You can also try using a “wave down” motion with your hand, palm down, directing the dog toward the down position on the floor by the treat or toy. But be sure you don’t reward the dog with the treat or praise until he correctly complies and lies down. This may take a while, though, so don’t get discouraged or angry if the dog doesn’t comply at first.

Some dogs may also require the use of a collar and leash to help with the training session. For this purpose, use a very short-only 2 to 4 feet in length-leather or nylon leash on your dog. Place the dog in the sitting position. Then kneel down in front of the dog so you are facing him.

Now make the command and unique hand gesture you will use for this command while also moving the toy or treat from a spot near the chin of the dog down to the ground. At the same time, calmly and slowly pull down on the leash to nudge the dog into the downward position you desire. Do not jerk on the leash or punish the dog or give any negative feedback. Again, follow up with praise when the dog completes the desired behavior.

In those really tough cases where the dog does not heed the command at once, kneel down and put the lead under one foot and then slide the loop under the knee of the dog’s opposite leg. Do this while facing the dog at a bit of an angle. The goal is to pull the lead loop with your other foot gently drawing the dog down. At the same time, you should gently take each of the dog’s front legs and pull them towards you while you give the vocal command.

When the dog is in the correct position, you should praise the dog profusely even though you were the one who set in motion the movement and not the dog. The idea is to get the dog to connect such a position with gratifying feelings: both his feelings and yours.