Francis Bacon once said, "Nature to be commanded, must be obeyed." When it comes to training a dog, this saying is very wise indeed. Dogs, as a species, are accustomed to a hierarchy structure of command and leadership. That's the way they naturally function and would continue to function if we had not domesticated them to be pets. So they are accustomed to a structure where everyone-or every dog-has his place in the pack-from the alpha leader to the bottom or omega dog. When you teach your dog the "down" technique, you are asserting your place as the alpha in the dog's world.
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.
It is advantageous that such behavior is more often than not quite straightforward to teach. That is why it is most fitting to get mileage out of such unprompted behavior whenever possible. This can be done by keeping an eye on the dog and reacting when there is a clear movement from standing to a sitting position orsensations4 from a sitting position to a down posture.
When this happens, you want to speak a specific command and use a unique hand gesture simultaneously. This gesture should be something you would not normally do, so you must make a special effort to do it. Every single time the dog goes into this position, you should clearly issue the command and make that hand gesture. Always use the same tone of voice.
After the command and as soon as the point of completion of the behavior is arrived at, praise the dog lavishly. At the start, the dog will not have a clear conception of why it is getting praise. In fact, this does not matter. With the repeating of these maneuvers, the dog's behavior will follow the command. Don't forget, it is the correct behavior you are after.
At first your dog probably won't obey as commanded because he's not certain what you want. So you will need to be patient and consistent. The best way to teach a new behavior is to work with the dog alone, away from other people and voices and distractions.
Another way to help your dog learn the down command and reward him is to do the following. When your dog is in a sitting position, place a toy or treat on the ground right near the front of the dog's nose where he will naturally want to lie down to engage with it. At the same time, simultaneously give the down command and then reward the dog with praise when he complies.
Helping to focus your dog's attention with the toy or snack, use a 'waving down' hand movement, with your palm towards the floor position. Be sure to avoid rewarding any dog with praise or a treat unless the behavior is accomplished and exactly correct. Be that as it may, if things don't go the way you want them to, take care not to become upset with the dog.
Some dogs require complementary training with a leash and collar to assist. To do this, get a short leather or nylon leash-a maximum of 4 feet long. Place the dog in the sitting position and kneel so you are in front of the dog 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 hard cases where the dog does not do what is expected immediately, kneel down and put the leash 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 slight angle. The goal is to pull the lead loop with your other foot gently pulling the dog down. At the same time, you should gently take each of the dog's forelegs 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 initiated the movement and not the dog. You always want the dog to couple such a position with good feelings: both his feelings and yours.
Related posts:
- Be Tenacious When Teaching Your Dog to Come
- Aggresion In Dogs – Dog Teaching
- Strengthen the Relationship With Your Dog Through Tricks Training
- Labrador Training Tips
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