Train Your Dog to Lie Down
Teaching the down command to your dog is almost as simple as sitting. This command is very useful to help your dog calm down in a hectic situation, or to keep him in the stay command for a long period of time. Get your dog’s attention and show him that you have a treat in your hand.
Hold the treat in front your dog’s nose. Say your dog’s name followed by the word “down,” spoken clearly and firmly. Slowly move the treat towards the ground. As soon as your dog’s elbows and hocks are on the ground, say “good down” in an upbeat tone. Give your dog the treat followed by petting and praising. Repeat 5-6 times.
If your dog does not lie down on his own after a few tries, avoid pushing him down. Next time he naturally lies down, say “down,” then praise and reward him. Hold short training sessions throughout the day in various locations, both indoor and outdoors. Once your dog becomes and expert at lying down, you no longer need to give a treat every time – only occasionally. However, rewarding with praise is always a good idea.
Teaching your dog to come to you when called is one of the most important basic commands. Once this command is mastered, you can protect him from a potentially dangerous situation by calling him to you. You can teach this command to a young puppy as soon as he learns his name.
Start indoors at the end of your dog’s leash. While he is not paying close attention to you, say his name followed by “come” in a clear, excited tone. Make movements such as tapping your knees and stepping backwards. As soon as your dog comes to you, praise him lavishly without causing overexcitement. If he does not come, lightly tug on the leash to encourage him. Again, keep an upbeat, excited tone to your voice – show him that coming to you is a very positive thing. Repeat 5 to 6 times, gradually moving outdoors. As he improves, practice it without the leash only if you have a fenced-in yard.
Never use the “come” command with an angry tone in your voice. Do not call your dog to you for negative things such as punishment, baths, or pills. Go get him instead for these things. Rewarding your dog with treats may be risky – treats should be used infrequently or not at all. If you call him in an emergency situation and he sees that you have no treats, he may not come to you. The reward should be something you can always provide, such as praise. If your dog tries to run away from you, do not run after him – this only turns it into a game. Try turning the game around by calling his name and running away from him. He may then run after you in play. If so, say “good come” and reward him with praise. This can be especially helpful in emergency situations.
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