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04-18-2012, 12:23 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 8
| "Down" We are currently enrolled in the PetSmart beginner class with our 6 month old. This week we are supposed to be working on "Down" (lay down), but we're having a rough time since she is so low to the ground. We get her to sit first, then bring the treat from her nose straight down to the ground, but I can't get her to keep her butt/hind legs down. She also doesn't bring her front legs forward. Any alternate ways I can get this trick down? |
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04-19-2012, 06:42 AM | #2 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 4,514
| Quote:
we had a lot of fun. yeah, the down command was tricky for us too but he got it. this is a good video ... http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_2349051_...own-these.html | |
04-19-2012, 07:30 AM | #3 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Try working on a couch with your pup's nose facing the edge of the couch. Bring the treat from the nose down below the edge of the couch. This will force her to get into the down position to reach the treat. This is the method that worked for my guys.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
04-19-2012, 07:34 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alabama
Posts: 941
| Down can be really challenging for some dogs. We use a couple of tricks. For the front legs not moving forward, try pulling the treat slightly forward as you move it towards the floor. For the pop up butt, it's a little hard to explain, but when we have one that has a butt that wants to pop up, we sit on the floor next to them and use our leg - out straight in front with the knee bent - kind of making a little "bridge". Have the little bridge over the back of your dog - not touching but preventing them from popping up. It's really hard to describe but easy to show. You can also lure them under the little bridge and click and treat for the "crouch" gradually shaping it into a full down. Another thing you can do is capture the behavior. All dogs lie down at some time. Click and treat the instant that she does it. It will take a while but when they do figure out what is getting the reward, it really sticks with them. We've had dogs that use down as their graduation trick because they had such a challenge learning it. It seems that it's either natural to them and they get it really quick or it just isn't and it takes a lot of time and work. It is really normal!!!
__________________ Karen and the Kids Sadie and Beemer Last edited by salazark; 04-19-2012 at 07:35 AM. Reason: wanted to add something |
04-19-2012, 08:02 AM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas
Posts: 1,921
| We had the same problem with Jezebel in her puppy class. The instructor had me sit on the ground with my legs out in front of me. The she had me lift one knee up slightly so that Jezebel could get up under it, but just barely so that she was in a "down" position. Then I just treated and praised her while I said the word down. Worked like a charm.
__________________ Life is merrier with a Yorkshire Terrier! Jezebel & Chuy ... RIP: Barkley Loosie & Sassy |
04-27-2012, 05:15 PM | #6 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| This is how we teach down to Yorkies and other small pups. We place them on a counter and cue with 'Down' and let them watch the treat go below the edge, they go down and as soon as they do we praise with Good down and treat.
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
05-21-2012, 11:06 AM | #7 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: alexandria, VA
Posts: 148
| Truffles got "down" really quick. right hand has treat (sit position firs and bring treat hand on floor right by nose slowly.. same time my left hand I show palm and touch her bottom area to go down same time the treat hand went down.... now she sees my left palm open and command "down" she goes down.... our problem .. is "Come" !!! lol |
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