Teaching To Lay Down

[magnumman414]

I have a 7 month old female rott who is named angel and for the most part she lives up to her name. She has taken training very well, I have even taught her to fix her ear on comand wich seems to amaze everyone we meet. But I can't get her to lay down on comand, I'm sure I am doing something wrong

[Tazwick]

What is it that you are trying to do with her?

I have taught my dog down by getting a treat and holding it in front of his nose and moving my hand downwards toward the floor and holding it there til he laid down.

There is also another method that my obedience club uses and that is to do the same as written above but when you get down to the floor, move the treat toward you.

[Rajah'sMom]

I'm having problems with that too. I do put the treat down to the floor and all Rajah does is put her nose to the floor, but while still in a sitting position. I then have to pull her legs out from under her (slowly, not hurting her). Should I not put her in the sit positon before asking down?

[magnumman414]

that's what I've been doing to, she will lower her head to the treat but not lay down. I don't tell her to sit but she usualy does, thats what she always does when she is confused with a new comand

[Tazwick]

Your pup can be in the sitting position...actually its the easiest way to teach them the down.

Have you tried putting the treat down to the floor and then bringing it toward you while it is still down to the floor? Keep doing it for about a week, changing the way you do things every training session will only confuse the pup more.

Hold the treat there, and wait and see if she will eventually lay down. If she does give her lots of praise!!

Just keep working on the treat method, trust me, she/he will get the hang of it eventually. When he/she finally does do it, make sure to praise them, give them treats!!!

If after a week and still no progress, you may have to resort to very gently guiding her into the down position by pressing on the shoulder blades...but make sure you do not add force to this, you could injure your pup.

[merlina]

Hey, magnumman414!

I just tried the "Down" using treats with two of my showgirls. They don't know any obedience. Well, actually, they just had their first lesson(s) in Obedience, eh? ;)

I could get them to do the sit quite easily by holding the treat way over their head. No choice, they gotta sit to still see it, right? Told them "stand" and brought the treat straight out in front and they stood. Actually, as show dogs, they know that one the best. Tried the Down from Stand, and ... of course ... they can reach the treat without doing anything more than lowering their heads.

Ooookay! Do the Sit thing again with the treat over their heads. They sat. Drop my hand containing the treat to the floor and they sort of "scrunch down" a bit, but they can still get the treat without being totally down. So, I kept the treat hidden in my fingers and then gently moved each front foot forward until they were "almost" in the perfect Down. "Hey! Good girl! Down!" And gave them the treat. They responded with that special look in their eyes that says: "Wow! Is that all you want? Cool!"

You have to make it like a really fun thing. And get laughing and excited when they do it correctly. The best way a dog learns a new trick is to have someone laugh at what they've done. Please note: Never, never laugh if the dog does something that you don't want him/her to do!! :D Honest to G-d! Don't do that!

There's another thread going on about dog emotions. Personally, I don't think they have real emotions. But they definitely respond to human laughter! And a bit of WoooHooo! will get a positive response as well. IMHO.

Take care, good luck,
merlina

[Kaiya]

I have taught my 14 weeks old Kaiya to sit and down with treats. I actually use some of her dog food for treats.
We have just mastered down. I have her sit, and reward her with praise, then while telling her down, I would pull the treat from her nose to the ground towards me, while using my left hand to put a little pressure on her rump, this keeps her back end down. When Started, and didn't hold her bum down, she would just get up and walk towards the treat. So I did this, and after about a week, she has it down pat. Just hold her bum down in the sit, while you offer the treat and move it toward you lowering it to the ground.

Good Luck,
Mike

[Rajah'sMom]

We got the down. I call it "lay down" instead of just down. When she jumps up on the couch or bed I have always just said "down" and she will jump right down. I guess it was confussing to her if down where "get off the couch" as well as "lay down". My husband has even taught her roll over. She now knows sit, paw, lay down and roll over. :D

[angellove]

I had the same troubles with our 2yo bitch, but kept trying and she got there, i now have to work on only giving the treat sometime as she is treat orientated at the moment.

So i get her to sit, then hold the treat by her nose and move it down, then forwards, she will lay down, i do sometimes have to place a hand on her butt to keep it on the floor.

Then only give her the treat maybe 1in 3 times.

keep at it, it will work. :D

[Rajah'sMom]

Rajah will do all of her tricks without a treat to motivate. I think she actually like hearing "good girl" and getting hugs better than getting a treat.;)