Teaching Missy the "Down" commend. - YorkieTalk.com Forums

debelm2 · 01-31-2010, 12:34 PM

Can anyone help me? I am trying to find out how to teach Missy "down". I've done several searches but I quess I'm not using the right words or something because I am not having much luck. She has quickly learned sit, and spin and stand pretty but every time I try to get her to lay down she jumps up from her sit and backs off. What should I be doing. I would appreciate any help. Debbie

debelm2 · 01-31-2010, 12:37 PM

Opps! Sorry about the typo. I knew I should have checked over what I wrote!

MI Yorkielover · 01-31-2010, 01:00 PM

If you google You Tube dog training/tricks I have seen some trainers teaching the lay down command. A picture is worth a thousand of my words. Also the training forum here has many members who are excellent at training their yorkies. Hope this helps.

jeanm1963 · 01-31-2010, 01:03 PM

have her sit and then hold the treat on the ground , when she goes down to get it say down and hand her the treat

debelm2 · 01-31-2010, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the reponses. I have tried getting her down from the sit but she will not go down completely. She gets down low but when I tried to gently encourage her the rest of the way she jumps back up. I will try finding something on you tube. I did go into the training section but haven't been able to find something specific to the "down" yet but I will keep looking. If anyone has a definite post please let me know. Thanks again.

capt_noonie · 01-31-2010, 02:24 PM

Try putting her up on a chair or stool. Most puppies are so small when you say down, they just look down, not go down b/c they are already so close to the floor. So put her up on a chair and sit. Then lure her with the treat and go down past the level of the seat so that the treat is actually much lower than it would be if she were on the ground. She will have to go in a down position to get closer to the treat. As soon as her elbows touch the seat say good down and treat.

You may also want to check out Britster's thread in the training forum too, lots of tips for trick training.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...-progress.html

dwerten · 01-31-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

have her sit and then hold the treat on the ground , when she goes down to get it say down and hand her the treat

this is how i taught dex to do down - sit and down were as far as we got lolll and my girls forget it they are out of control lollll

Misti1 · 01-31-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debelm2

Can anyone help me? I am trying to find out how to teach Missy "down". I've done several searches but I quess I'm not using the right words or something because I am not having much luck. She has quickly learned sit, and spin and stand pretty but every time I try to get her to lay down she jumps up from her sit and backs off. What should I be doing. I would appreciate any help. Debbie

Maya and Mika told me to tell you to leave Missy alone. We don't do tricks over here, at least not ORGANIZED ones. THe ones that happen by accident are so much more fun.

debelm2 · 01-31-2010, 02:51 PM

Missy says hi to Maya Mika but says that she'll do anything if it gets her treats, accidently or on purpose!! And by the way she is acting I'd say she really enjoys the tricks as well as the treats! I can't believe how quickly she picks them up except for the down one. So far that is difficult for her. Thank you for the other ideas. We tried the chair one and it seems hopeful but everytime she goes down to get the treat her butt goes up. But we will keep working on it a little at a time. Thanks for the help. Debbie

Ashley V · 01-31-2010, 02:58 PM

Chip was easy to train with everything - all we had to do was from a sit position hold the treat in front of his nose and bring it to the ground. He followed it with his nose. Smokey was another story... I learned this trick by watching others have to do it at Chip's puppy class. Squat down on the ground as low as you can and hold one leg straight out to the side. Have your dog sit directly in front of your leg that is straight. Hold the treat to the ground behind your leg, but in front of where your dog is sitting and she should try to crawl underneath to get it. When she does do the whole praise thing and repeat, repeat, repeat until you don't have to use your leg anymore. When I did that, Smokey learned in like 15 minutes after months (no exaggeration) of trying to teach him down. I'll try tomorrow to maybe get some pictures of me doing it with Smokey so maybe you can see it visually if you want.

debelm2 · 01-31-2010, 03:14 PM

Did I forget to mention that I am 53!!!

Getting down on the floor in a crouch is bad enough but putting my leg out straight from there, I found causes lots of pain.

But I did do it but I won't have to worry about working on it for too long. I will loose feeling in my legs long before Missy looses interest!! But we will keep trying and see if any of the ideas work. I guess this trick is just going to take more work then the others! Thanks again all. This is a lot of fun!

toke · 01-31-2010, 03:21 PM

None of the usual gentle methods that worked with my 3 previous Yorkies worked with Zoey. Maybe because she is so small and low to the ground (4 lbs.), she just dipped her head and nabbed the treat.

Sounds awful, but I ended up gently pushing her down with my hand over her shoulders, while saying "down." Did it just 2 or 3 times and she figured it out...kind of like "sit." Now she downs like an angel with just a hand signal.

capt_noonie · 01-31-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debelm2

Missy says hi to Maya Mika but says that she'll do anything if it gets her treats, accidently or on purpose!! And by the way she is acting I'd say she really enjoys the tricks as well as the treats! I can't believe how quickly she picks them up except for the down one. So far that is difficult for her. Thank you for the other ideas. We tried the chair one and it seems hopeful but everytime she goes down to get the treat her butt goes up. But we will keep working on it a little at a time. Thanks for the help. Debbie

For the chair method: Use your other hand and put it behind her butt in the sit position. When she starts to go down and lifts up her butt, hold the hand over her butt when she goes down. if she feels your hand above her, she will put it back down.

QuickSilver · 01-31-2010, 04:52 PM

Most dogs learn Down very quickly, but of course, some dogs don't.

It's a very vulnerable/submissive position, so some dogs really don't like it.

I second the crawling under the leg technique, I believe that's called a "bridge".

Also, you can just "shape" the behavior. Give her a treat for just touching her nose to the floor, then only treat if she goes a little lower, then a little lower than that... if she's jumping back, it sounds like something is making her uncomfortable. How's your body language?

debelm2 · 01-31-2010, 05:05 PM

I know that my hand coming down from behind her does make her jump up. She has always been a little "hand shy" when they are coming at her, like when we would go to pick her up she backs up. But I read on here that is a common reaction. And now she is better at that. When I go to use my other hand at all, she turns to that hand looking for the treat in that hand also. She has to check it out. I hope my body language is OK. I never work with her for more then 3 or 4 minutes, 5 at the most when she is doing good. I don't want her to get bored or frustrated. She is still so young.

01-31-2010, 12:34 PM	#1
debelm2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Webster, NH Posts: 142	Teaching Missy the "Down" commend. Can anyone help me? I am trying to find out how to teach Missy "down". I've done several searches but I quess I'm not using the right words or something because I am not having much luck. She has quickly learned sit, and spin and stand pretty but every time I try to get her to lay down she jumps up from her sit and backs off. What should I be doing. I would appreciate any help. Debbie

01-31-2010, 01:00 PM	#3
MI Yorkielover Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 3,317	If you google You Tube dog training/tricks I have seen some trainers teaching the lay down command. A picture is worth a thousand of my words. Also the training forum here has many members who are excellent at training their yorkies. Hope this helps. __________________ Jackie Loves Sophie R.I.P ."Baby"* our little girl 1993-2009*

01-31-2010, 01:03 PM	#4
jeanm1963 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Weymouth, Ma Posts: 2,584	have her sit and then hold the treat on the ground , when she goes down to get it say down and hand her the treat __________________ I Support http://www.yorkiesinc.com/

01-31-2010, 02:24 PM	#6
capt_noonie www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County Posts: 17,408	Try putting her up on a chair or stool. Most puppies are so small when you say down, they just look down, not go down b/c they are already so close to the floor. So put her up on a chair and sit. Then lure her with the treat and go down past the level of the seat so that the treat is actually much lower than it would be if she were on the ground. She will have to go in a down position to get closer to the treat. As soon as her elbows touch the seat say good down and treat. You may also want to check out Britster's thread in the training forum too, lots of tips for trick training. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...-progress.html __________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12

01-31-2010, 02:58 PM	#10
Ashley V ♥ Chip ♥ Smokey ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Leesburg Posts: 3,835	Chip was easy to train with everything - all we had to do was from a sit position hold the treat in front of his nose and bring it to the ground. He followed it with his nose. Smokey was another story... I learned this trick by watching others have to do it at Chip's puppy class. Squat down on the ground as low as you can and hold one leg straight out to the side. Have your dog sit directly in front of your leg that is straight. Hold the treat to the ground behind your leg, but in front of where your dog is sitting and she should try to crawl underneath to get it. When she does do the whole praise thing and repeat, repeat, repeat until you don't have to use your leg anymore. When I did that, Smokey learned in like 15 minutes after months (no exaggeration) of trying to teach him down. I'll try tomorrow to maybe get some pictures of me doing it with Smokey so maybe you can see it visually if you want. __________________ ~~ Chip ~~ Smokey ~*~ My heart is wrapped around their little paws Karley Marissa born 1/20/12 weighing 8 lbs 11 oz and 21.5 inches long

01-31-2010, 12:37 PM	#2
debelm2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Webster, NH Posts: 142	Opps! Sorry about the typo. I knew I should have checked over what I wrote!

01-31-2010, 01:41 PM	#5
debelm2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Webster, NH Posts: 142	Thanks for the reponses. I have tried getting her down from the sit but she will not go down completely. She gets down low but when I tried to gently encourage her the rest of the way she jumps back up. I will try finding something on you tube. I did go into the training section but haven't been able to find something specific to the "down" yet but I will keep looking. If anyone has a definite post please let me know. Thanks again.

01-31-2010, 02:51 PM	#9
debelm2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Webster, NH Posts: 142	Missy says hi to Maya Mika but says that she'll do anything if it gets her treats, accidently or on purpose!! And by the way she is acting I'd say she really enjoys the tricks as well as the treats! I can't believe how quickly she picks them up except for the down one. So far that is difficult for her. Thank you for the other ideas. We tried the chair one and it seems hopeful but everytime she goes down to get the treat her butt goes up. But we will keep working on it a little at a time. Thanks for the help. Debbie

01-31-2010, 03:14 PM	#11
debelm2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Webster, NH Posts: 142	Did I forget to mention that I am 53!!! Getting down on the floor in a crouch is bad enough but putting my leg out straight from there, I found causes lots of pain. But I did do it but I won't have to worry about working on it for too long. I will loose feeling in my legs long before Missy looses interest!! But we will keep trying and see if any of the ideas work. I guess this trick is just going to take more work then the others! Thanks again all. This is a lot of fun!

01-31-2010, 03:21 PM	#12
toke YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 258	None of the usual gentle methods that worked with my 3 previous Yorkies worked with Zoey. Maybe because she is so small and low to the ground (4 lbs.), she just dipped her head and nabbed the treat. Sounds awful, but I ended up gently pushing her down with my hand over her shoulders, while saying "down." Did it just 2 or 3 times and she figured it out...kind of like "sit." Now she downs like an angel with just a hand signal. __________________ Debby...owned by Zoey, the no longer Porky Chorkie (or maybe Morkie!)

01-31-2010, 04:52 PM	#14
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	Most dogs learn Down very quickly, but of course, some dogs don't. It's a very vulnerable/submissive position, so some dogs really don't like it. I second the crawling under the leg technique, I believe that's called a "bridge". Also, you can just "shape" the behavior. Give her a treat for just touching her nose to the floor, then only treat if she goes a little lower, then a little lower than that... if she's jumping back, it sounds like something is making her uncomfortable. How's your body language?

01-31-2010, 05:05 PM	#15
debelm2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Webster, NH Posts: 142	I know that my hand coming down from behind her does make her jump up. She has always been a little "hand shy" when they are coming at her, like when we would go to pick her up she backs up. But I read on here that is a common reaction. And now she is better at that. When I go to use my other hand at all, she turns to that hand looking for the treat in that hand also. She has to check it out. I hope my body language is OK. I never work with her for more then 3 or 4 minutes, 5 at the most when she is doing good. I don't want her to get bored or frustrated. She is still so young.