I'm trying to teach my pup to "down" (lay down) but she looks at me like I'm an alien! She mastered "sit" within minutes, and now whenever she wants a treat she sits and looks at me with those big eyes saying "look mummy, I can sit, now where is my treat?"
To get her to lay down I start with sit then lower the treat to the floor, but she's not stupid - she bends her head down towards the treat. Why bother with the effort of laying down when you can just bend down! I've tried various things, including trying to gently push her down, and sliding her front feet out, but she doesn't respond to anything.
Has anyone got any tips for the "down" command?
Replies
KatB (over 1 year ago)
OK emploding. Your doin it half right. Tell her to Sit. Treat her. Then give the command to down. Take the treat in your right fingers, hole right above her nose and take it straight down her chest to the floor and slightly outward. At the same time take your left hand and place it on her shoulder blades and push her down. You can then HOLD her down for just a few seconds or count to 5 and release, and praise. As soon as she is down, Praise her. Make it short the first few times. Keep working adding the stay once she starts to go down on her own. DON'T give the treat until she has completed the exercise. Also, when giving a command. Never use the dogs name, only when you are going to be in motion with your dog, or you are calling your dog to you on a recall. Such as when heeling, Say, (Dogs name) and HEEL. And with a recall or calling your dog to you, use( dogs name) and FRONT or COME HERE.Any other commands, just use the command it self. SIT, DOWN, STAY, etc.
PugLife (over 1 year ago)
Great information KatB.. Bless your soul!!! My 2 year old picked it up pretty quickly, but my 6 month old has learned about 6 tricks besides that one. He looks at me like I am an alien too :p
emploding (over 1 year ago)
That's interesting aboyut not using her name, what's the idea behind that? I use her name all the time to get her attention, is that not a good thing to do?
I haven't tried the down command yet, she's been too manic because there have been lots of people around and I need to wait till she's a bit more calm, it's pointless trying to get do anything with her when shes in this mood lol
KatB (over 1 year ago)
We don't use the name on every command. Only on recalls or heeling. You want your dog to learn the command itself. Most people have a problem getting their dogs to come when called. So using the name works best on that one. Down is I think the hardest to teach for some dogs. Pugs don't always like to go over on their sides or be placed upside down on their backs due to the way they breath. So I never make a pug do that. I let them do that on their own. So just a simple down on the tummy is fine. A better down is when the dog goes down on his tummy and rotates his hip onto it side. A more relaxed down and the dog is not as apt to get up right away.
Bryansmum (about 1 year ago)
Thanks KatB, I've been struggling with that one too! I find it quite interesting that Pugs don't like to lie on their backs as my little man often sleeps/plays with toys whilst lying on his back. I think he just likes to show off his tummy
z28susan (about 1 year ago)
We took our oldest pug to puppy training class and the way they had us try to get them to learn down was to sit with your knees bent and put the treat underneath and the pup would then go down under your knees to get the treat.
KatB (about 1 year ago)
z28susan, I have seen that taught as well. It seems to work really good with older and larger breeds. If you are teaching that way and it is working, that's fine. BUT, sooner or later you are goin to want your pug to do it when you say it, without you having to sit down. Dogs are smart, and creatures of habit. So sometimes it can back fire. They watch your body language as well. They can learn to expect it that way. I am a more lets just get to the point dog, and and learn this. HA! I always tell people with new very young puppy's to go ahead and start obedience, like with the sits and downs, and come front. It is easier taught then. Some people wait til they are having problems and the pup is bigger. It can make it a little tuffer, especialiy with big breeds.
KatB (about 1 year ago)
PS- With using the dogs name. You want your dog to learn the command word. Sit, down, stay. So with puppy's you want them to learn their name right? Then start playing the front game. Dogs name and Front. By doin this he learns to come to you. Same with Heel. Use dogs name first followed with Heel. Use name only when you will be in motion with the dog or calling him to you. I have students (and I laugh in my head everytime they do this) bend down in the dogs face and say, DUKE! (snapping fingers) Duke! and go on and on until the dog finally looks them in the eye. By then it's been 5 mins. HA! And then tell them the command. So if you want your dog to look you in the eye, you play a game called watch me. Here's how it goes. Hold a treat in your fingers. Say Watch ME! Take the treat and slowly bring it toward the side of your head, Keep repeating Watch ME! As soon as your dog takes his eyes off the treat and looks you in the eye. Even just for a second, Give the treat and praise.
It is great when you have a dog that watchs every move you make.
elgor (about 1 year ago)
I can get Zoe to do this ... but she is the only one! Peyton can shake and high-five ... but he is the only one! Webster and Liberty are a little more stubborn and refuse to learn any tricks! LOL!!!
KatB (about 1 year ago)
z28susan, HA! One thing I've learned about pugs? They'll do it if they think it was their idea first. LOL! And food must come with any job or task we ask of them. They aren't stupid are they.
Working with China Rose in Obed. is really fun. I always have to stay one step ahead of her way of thinking, to teach her something she doesn't want to do. And sooner or later she out smarts me, and we go back to me figuring one up on her. HA! But one thing about Rose is she expect herself to do it perfect. She gets upset when she is confussed,or even another dog making a racket during class. She once chased a springer spainel around the ring, doing the puggy scream, because the dog was barking while she was physcing herself up to do a fantastic cross room recall. After she put him in his place she came back to my side and looked at me, like, sorry mom, I couldn't concentrate with all the racket. HA! Our president of the club says she rules the class. She also likes to suck up to the instructor. Last week she was doin off lead heeling, and when we walked by instructor sitting down in a chair, Rose jumped up in her lap and gave her a kiss right on the mouth. I didn't even see her do this. And then caught up to my side like nothing happened. Everyone was laughing and I didn't know why. What can I say. PUGS? Gotta love um.
TRINITY25_99 (about 1 year ago)
We did the same situation where we got Leo to sit, and then down to the floor from their with a finger to floor as the command and said "Down" and it worked \O/ Though sometimes he gets SO excited for a treat he on occassion has 'rolled over' for us rather than laying down ... ha ha ... gotta love em
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