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			How to Train a Dog: Down by Cris Waller Article Rating = 4.42 (43 votes)

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Category: Animals & Pets : Dogs If you haven't read it already, please read my article "The Basics" for an intro to training. Step 1 Get a good supply of small food treats. Take them and your dog into a quiet room. Step 2 Hold a treat just in front of your dog's nose. Slowly draw it down and between your dog's front legs, towards the ground. He'll lay down as he follows the food. Don't give any command at this stage! If your dog has a hard time with this, hold the treat under a chair or table where he'll have to lay down to get at it. Step 3 As your dog is laying down (be quick!) praise the dog and give him the treat! Repeat until your dog is laying down quickly when he sees the food move. Take a break! Step 4 Get ready with the dog and food as for the first session. Take a piece of food, say "down", and then lure the dog into position. It helps if you point to the ground, using a motion similar to the way you used the food lure (you can use this later as a signal to the dog.). Praise and treat. Repeat until the dog is starting to lay down as you say the word "down". Take a break! Step 5 Now you start to fade the food. Get ready as you did for the last session. Say "down". When the dog lays down, praise and pet the dog! Repeat the "down", but this time give the dog a treat for laying down. Repeat, giving the dog a treat at random times. Remember the "jackpot principle" referred to in my first article! Step 6 Now you can start to generalize. Ask the dog to lay down in different locations. Depending on your dog, you may need to lure a few downs with food first in the first few new locations. Randomly treat the downs. Keep practicing in new locations until the dog reliably lays down on the first command no matter where you are. Congratulations- you have trained a dog to lay down! About the author... Submitted By Cris Waller Description Dog person Web Page http://members.tripod.com/antique_fcr Other Articles in this Category How to Train a Dog: Come by Cris Waller How to Train a Dog: The Basics by Cris Waller How to Keep Your Dog From Digging In Your OutdoorFlower Pots by Roseanne Smith Choosing a Dog... Where to Find a Dog (and where *not* to!) by crisw How to Train a Dog: Walking Nicely by Cris Waller How to Train a Dog: Stay by Cris Waller How to Train a Dog: Sit by Cris Waller How to Train a Dog: Housebreaking by Cris Waller How to Figure Out the Cost of Keeping a Dog for a Year by crisw Choosing a Dog... How To Find a Reputable Breeder by crisw Choosing a Dog... Picking a Breed by crisw How to Deter Neighborhood Dogs from Using Your Yard as a Bathroom by ckeeta Choosing a Dog... Purebred or Mixed-Breed? by crisw Choosing a Dog... Puppy or Adult? by crisw How to Decrease the Size of Skin Cysts on Your Dog by Brenda Schultheis Choosing a Dog... Indoor or Outdoor? by crisw Other Sites Storkin.com - Baby and Pregnancy Tips and Discussion Health Articles Menopause Symptoms HIV/AIDS Symptoms West Nile Symptoms Diabetes Symptoms Pregnancy Symptoms Tech Sites Dell DJ Hacks Read other Articles - click here.