This command is a very useful command and is relatively easy to teach your dog. After learning the sit command, this command should be a breeze for you. Getting your dog to be able to lie down and wait while you go into a shop or walk away is a very useful command and is also key to gaining trust and a good relationship with your dog.
This command should be firstly taught indoors or in a comfortable place your dog is used to learning and doing commands for you, and then as time goes on and your dog gets better at achieving success with the command, you should take it into a public place with lots of interests and new smells to distract them. This should test the strength and commitment your dog has for the down command.
To start, make sure your dog is in the mood for training and preferably in a hungry and wanting mood where they will be more than happy to please you if it means they get a treat, just before meal times is generally a good time for training and will help the progress of your dog.
When you are ready to begin and you have your dogs treats to-hand, start by getting your dog to sit for you, followed by a reward .Then let your dog know you have another treat in your hand for him and slowly lower it in front of him, going lower and lower, as the treat gets lowered closer to the ground your dog will be forced into the down position with their belly firmly on the floor and paws ahead of them.
As soon as your dogs belly touches the floor, the command 'down' should be said and you should reward them with praise, encouragement and the treat you used. This makes the dog associate the command with the action and the action with a reward to help your dog training process.
If your dog steps out of line during the training exercise, gently punish them accordingly. After you have learnt this command and you now think you're ready for the next step, try taking your dog into a distracting place or area, or playing with their ball around them. When you have your dog under control at all times using the down command it is time to move on to more advanced dog training and you have now got a new trick to show your friends and family.
Teaching your dog to obey commands is a fundamental necessity for any new owner. Dog ownership is a serious business and should not be taken lightly. Before you take the huge step of making a fun loving animal a part of your life you need to give it some serious thought. Don't forget when you take on a dog you take on a dog for life. But let us assume that you have been through that stage and still want a new member of the family.
How will you be teaching your dog to obey even the simplest of commands ? There are several ways that this can be achieved .
There are many publications and videos available that will teach you, the owner, how to teach your new companion.
Many local pet stores run training and obedience courses.
A private trainer could be used.
Whether your new companion is a puppy or an adult dog it needs to become familiar with you, it's new owner. In general a dog is loyal to only one master. It can only cause confusion if he is taught by more than one member of the family. That is not saying that he will be unruly with all the other family members, he will not, for when you are teaching your dog to obey you it is instilling a sense of discipline which will determine his demeanor with the whole of the family. You will be teaching him direction and boundaries and through repetition he will understand what is allowed and what is not allowed.
One basic rule to remember when teaching your dog to obey your commands is that it is done in a friendly and playful manner as no dog responds to an aggressive or demanding style of teaching. Keep your training sessions short and always have fun. Carry doggie treats as reward for even the smallest task completed or attempted. When teaching your dog to obey never use violence, train your dog with trust and respect, If you feel the dog is not responding cut the training session short and try again tomorrow. Never judge your success in teaching your dog to obey you in days, it is a fact that some dogs are smarter than others, quite like humans, where one dog will train in a short time others could take twice as long. Do not be discouraged if you seem to be making very little progress, you would be well advised to keep a journal from day one so that in times of frustration you can look back and see the actual success that you have achieved.
Be flexible, patient and always fair. Your dog doesn't just automatically know the right things to do. It's all new to him and he is bound to have the odd slip up and mistake along the way. Dismiss these mistakes and just move on and do your best to prevent them in the future. Enjoy this fantastic time in your dogs life. When teaching your dog to obey you is the time where you will lay the foundation for your life of pleasure together. It's also where you will develop, build and strengthen the special bond you will share with your dog for life.
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