Probs with down command. Hi, I'm having probs teaching Poppy the down command. With my old dog, I taught her from a sit, then pulled food out in front of her close to the floor until she eventually laid down, but Poppy just won't go down! Any ideas to help tiny dogs with down? Her sit is good, and she will stay for a short while, and come if I have food! |
I had the same problem with Belle. I had to gently press on her shoulders to get her to go Down. As soon as her belly touched the floor gave her tons of praise. Then I moved her to a chair and she followed the food lure to lay down. After that we moved back to the floor and worked on it a lot. She now knows DOWN and will STAY in a DOWN, also. |
I know I started reinforcing the word down whenever Buster would lay down and just say down and praise him a lot to associate the word with the action. Then when we trained with food I would point my finger and touch the floor and say down and being incredibly food motivated Buster would practically throw himself into a down position. |
I had this issue with Piper and a few suggestions from trainers I asked. Put her up on a chair and bring the food down below the chair so that if she wants it, she had to lay down. Because Piper was so small when trying to teach she food on the ground she could get from a sit position. But moving her to a chair, she had to lay down to get the food that was below the chair. (I hope that makes sense, its not coming translating well from my head to the fingers, to the keyboard :) ). Another way they told me and this one I didn't use so I don't remember it as well, is to make a V shape with your leg and make sure pass under it and work on the down command. If you google you'll find the correct way to do it, but just an idea to get your wheels turning. It took Piper FOREVER to learn the down command because not much worked. |
DOWN you go. Teaching small toy dogs down is difficult. They may feel vulnerable laying down. Most Yorkies can easily reach the floor while sitting, or standing because they are low to the ground. Begin by teach the cue word Down, every time your dog lays down on his own say Down, Good Down. After a few days of that We put the Yorkie on a table or counter to teach the cue Down. When he is sitting on the counter, hook a finger in his harness so he can not walk around. Use the cue word Down and hold the treat close to his nose slowly move the treat toward you and down, to the edge of the counter and then below the counter. He will probably hang his head over the edge to see the treat. Praise with Good Down and treat. (don't let his butt pop up when doing this exercise) Another way is what we call Limbo Bridge. Sit on the floor, bend your knees, put feet on the floor make a low bridge. Have your dog sit on the left of your leg bridge. Give the cue Down and wiggle the treat , tempt your dog to stick his head under the bridge for the treat. If his butt is still in the air, make him crawl partly under your legs. As soon as his butt is down, treat and praise with, GOOD DOWN ! It usually takes about 8 days of practice to teach Down. Try to practice three or four times every day until your pup gets it. |
Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself about! No seriously. Turn your back to her, she'll get it. |
Thanks for the ideas! I kinda gave up, but must try again! :-) |
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