Why “Down” matters
A solid Down helps your dog relax at the vet, on restaurant patios, during greetings, and when life gets busy at home. Taught kindly, it becomes a built-in calm button anywhere.
What you’ll need
5–10 pea-sized soft treats (high value)
A quiet, grippy surface (rug or mat)
A marker word (“Yes!”) or clicker
3–5 minutes and a smile 😄
Step-by-step: teach “Down”
Train 3–5 reps, 2–3 short sessions per day. Stop while your pup still wants more.
Start in a Sit. Hold a treat at your dog’s nose.
Lure to the floor. Move the treat straight down between the front paws, then slightly toward the chest so the head follows and elbows lower.
Mark & reward. The instant both elbows touch, say “Yes!” (or click) and place the treat on the floor between the paws.
Repeat 3–5 reps. Slow, smooth luring. If your dog relaxes a hip (“pancakes”), quietly feed 2–3 treats in place.
Add the cue. When your dog follows your empty hand easily, say “Down” right before the hand motion. Fade food from the luring hand; deliver the treat from the other hand.
Build duration. Feed a couple of calm treats while down (2–3 seconds apart), then give a release word like “Free!”
Generalize. Practice on different surfaces/rooms; add mild distractions later.
5-Minute Session Plan
1 min: warm-up Sits + nose-to-hand target
2 min: 3–5 Down reps (mark instantly, feed on the floor)
1 min: duration—treat, pause 2s, treat, pause 3s, release
1 min: end on a win; brief play/sniff break
Troubleshooting
Won’t follow the lure: use higher-value treats; slow the hand. Start from a stand and lure under a bent knee/low table to encourage the fold-back down. Reward tiny steps (head dip → elbow bend → elbows down).
Pops up after treating: feed 2–3 treats in position, then release. Keep rewards low to the ground.
Only “sphinx,” hip stays up: reward when the hip relaxes; gentle chest strokes can help some dogs settle.
Crawls toward your hand: lure a shorter distance and reward where elbows land.
Great at home, not elsewhere: lower difficulty (easy surface, fewer distractions), then rebuild.
Common mistakes
Asking for Down at long distance too soon
Rewarding after the dog stands—reward while down
Sessions that are too long (fatigue = frustration)
Pushing the dog physically (can scare/sour the behavior)
“Down” vs. “Settle”
Down: precise position—elbows on floor until released.
Settle: relaxed on a mat/bed with looser rules.
Teach both: Down for precision; Settle for chill time on a mat.
7-Day Mini Plan
Days 1–2: Lure → Mark → Reward. Add cue once it’s easy.
Days 3–4: Duration 3–5 seconds, gentle distractions.
Days 5–6: New rooms/surfaces; short practice outdoors.
Day 7: Add distance (you stand up slowly), then release.
Safety note: If your dog shows discomfort moving into Down, stop and consult your vet or a certified trainer. Train on non-slip surfaces.
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