Training Your Dog to Lay Down

Maybe one of the easier commands you can train your dog to do is to lay down.This could be one of you first commands if you don't start with the sit command first.This one comes in really handy when guests come over or when you go to visit.It is harder for your dog to jump on someone or knock things over with his tail when he is on the floor.

If you decide to start right off with the down command,the first thing you would obviously want to do is to get your dog to lay down.Watch your dog and when he naturally tries to lay down say the command at the same time.Follow that immediately with his treat.He thinks he got lucky for doing nothing, you know better.Keep repeating this and soon he will get the message of what you want which is lay down on command.

You may find yourself trying to encourage your dog to lay down.What you can do is  have him start in the sit position.Gently force him down by carefully pulling his front paws towards you.This should cause him to lay down.Again follow the lay down command with his treat and praise.

Using a collar and a short leash is another method of training your dog to lay down.Have him assume the sit position and either use a treat or his favorite toy. Move the treat or toy from his nose down to the floor while saying the down command.If he just can't understand give him a gentle little tug downward while saying down.An option with a leash would be to gently push down on his shoulder blades with the palm of your hand while tugging on the leash.

Always remember to be gentle with your training, force will only hurt your dog as well as make it harder the next time.Gentle encouragement with heaps of praise will always go a lot farther than punishment.Making the exercise fun for him will in the end make life just that much easier for you.No one likes to be forced.If he gets confused try to be patient.Take your time and he will get it.Again, like anything else, consistency with the lay down command is the key.

Once he has mastered the down command and knows to lay down and stay put you will probably want to add  a release command so that he knows when to get up .Think of your dog in this way ,he learns about as fast as a two year old child and doesn't speak people.So don't expect the world from him.

 Daniel Stevens home study dog training course can help you with training your dog to learn how to lay down on command.Check out "The Secrets To Dog Training "here!