Down
Down is a great command for dogs that need to learn to relax in one place for long periods of time and lying down can be helpful for big dogs by making them less intimidating when meeting children or people nervous around dogs.
Videos
Teach Your Dog to Lie Down
Learn the steps in teaching the “Down” command.
How to Teach Down
Steps
Phase 1 - Acquisition (Learning and Luring)
Lure into Down: Use a treat to lure your dog into a down position by moving it slowly from their nose straight to the ground. Keep your hand close and cupped to maintain interest. Adjust angles if needed.
Mark and Reward: Mark and reward as soon as their elbows hit the ground using either a continuation or terminal marker.
Repeat and Fade the Lure: Practice with the treat until they understand, then remove the treat and repeat the motion. Mark, then reward from your pouch when they down.
Shape the Signal: Gradually move your hand farther from the dog until they respond to the hand signal alone.
*Remember perseverance levels differ for dogs, they may need a reward halfway down at first. You may also need to just wait them out and try different angles.
Start shaping your hand signal to be different from the original lure, bringing it closer to your body without bending over. A common signal is a palm-down motion. This may take gradual steps as the dog is used to the palm-up position. Alternatively, use the new signal followed by the lure until they begin responding to the hand signal alone, similar to adding a command.
Phase 2 - Automatic (Motivation)
Name the Behavior: Once your dog downs 5/5 times from the hand signal, say “Down,” then cue with the hand signal. Mark and reward when they down.
Use Terminal Marker: For the first few repetitions, use the terminal marker to allow for quick repetitions and reduce pressure to reinforce the stay. This encourages faster performance.
Refine and Move On: Say “Down,” then use the hand signal. Once they consistently beat your cue, move to the next phase. If they hesitate, help with the hand signal and stay patient.
Phase 3 - Generalization (Distractions)
Now your dog downs every time you say “Down” and you rarely need to help them with a hand cue. Congratulations! It’s time to show the dog that “down” means “down” everywhere else too. You can reference the Phases of Learning page to get more ideas on how to help generalize. Here are a few to get you started:
Change the Picture: Practice with your dog next to you, not just in front. Say “Down,” and be ready to use a hand signal. If needed, go back to luring with a treat.
Practice in Different Rooms: Try practicing in various rooms and positions (front, side, back-facing).
Go Outside: Practice in a low-distraction outdoor setting, starting over with the lure if necessary.
Add Distractions: Once the dog is proficient indoors, introduce distractions like toys or movement. Use a leash to prevent self-rewarding and increase space if they get too distracted.
Week 1 Homework
Practice Phase 1 (luring) every day 1-3x a day.
Remember to try to remove the food from your hand lure as soon as possible.
Once you’ve had a couple of successful luring sessions, try slowly shaping a hand signal that you do while standing straight up and not needing your hand directly in the dogs face. You may want to do the hand signal (palm facing down, hand moves down) then follow up with the hand lure where you drop to the ground with your hand.
By the end of the week you should easily have a dog that downs, if not distracted, every time you signal with your hand. You may need more time from the luring to hand signal as down can be a tricky one for some dogs.
Week 2 Homework
If your dog will down on the hand signal 5/5 times then you can start saying “Down” before you give the hand signal.
Practice the steps in Phase 2 every day 1-3x a day.
The goal at the end of this week is to have your dog down on either the verbal or physical hand signal without food in your hands.
Week 3 Homework
Continue asking your dog to down with either verbal or visual cues. They should respond equally well to each one.
Don’t hesitate to HELP them with a hand signal after your verbal command if they are distracted or confused.
Start fading the treats (intermittent reinforcement) when they are responding to the verbal command most of the time without needing help.
Start working on generalizing the “Down” by practicing the steps in Phase 3. Go back to 100% reinforcement in any new or distracting environment.
You may also be able to work on the implied stay if they are responding well to the verbal command.
Week 4 Homework
Start asking for downs randomly throughout the day and when they go to their place/kennel or are getting a little riled up.
Continue to work on saying the command only once, then following up with hand signal if they need help. Repeating yourself is not helping.
Continue practicing the implied stay and creating distance and duration.
The goal at the end of this week is to have a dog that understands “Down” means to lay down wherever they are (not always in front of you) and to stay in their down until released. Try for a 1 minute sit-stay while you walk 5-10 feet away.
Week 5 Homework…and Beyond
You will continue to help them generalize “Down” and to work in more and more distracting environments.