How to Train Your Dog to Lie Down Using a Clicker
Down is an important command for your dog to learn. There are several different methods to training a dog to lie down. Some trainers hold a dog's collar, push them down and hold them in place. This is a negative approach to training, not allowing the dog to think for themselves. A much more positive method is clicker training.
Clicker training involves the use of a clicker, a small box with a metal plate that makes a clicking noise when it is pressed. At the moment your dog performs your desired behavior you click and give a treat. Your dog is eager to work and learn because they associate the click with something desirable (the treat).
Before starting to train commands you have to show your dog what the click means. Initially just click and give a treat. Repeat this several times until your dog looks at you when they hear the click, this may take several sessions to achieve. When they look at you, you can start training in one of two ways, capturing or luring.
Capturing is somewhat informal; you watch your dog and whenever you see them lie down you click at the exact moment they do and give them a reward. Over time you add the down command or a hand cue, as you see them start to lie, initially rewarding every time they lie down, gradually phasing the treats out until you only reward when they lie down after you have cued them.
Luring involves using a treat along with the clicker. Have your dog sit. Take a treat in one hand and hold it in front of their nose. Move your hand/treat down towards the floor, clicking if your dog follows and lies down. If they don't go down all the way you can move the treat out in front of your dog which often leads to them lying down. Click as soon as they lie down and then give the treat.
If your dog doesn't make it all the way down you can break the exercise down, clicking and rewarding when they follow the treat part way to the floor, gradually increasing the distance they move down before clicking.
Once they are following the treat down reliably, add the down command at the start of the exercise. Gradually phase out the luring, until your dog lies down on command, rewarding only when they have lain on command.
Once your dog can lie down on command you should move onto the "down stay", where they stay in the down position until you release them. This exercise again takes time, the length of the down and the distance you are from them being gradually increased. Command your dog to lie down, but don't click immediately, wait a second or two, then click. If your dog gets up, don't reward or click, just start the exercise over again. Gradually increase the time before you reward. Remember to use a release word to let your dog know that they can get up.
Training your dog to lie down should be fun and should be practiced regularly to sharpen the skill. You can practice the down, and other commands informally during the day - just ask your dog to sit, or lie down and praise when they do.
Before starting to train commands you have to show your dog what the click means. Initially just click and give a treat. Repeat this several times until your dog looks at you when they hear the click, this may take several sessions to achieve. When they look at you, you can start training in one of two ways, capturing or luring.
Capturing is somewhat informal; you watch your dog and whenever you see them lie down you click at the exact moment they do and give them a reward. Over time you add the down command or a hand cue, as you see them start to lie, initially rewarding every time they lie down, gradually phasing the treats out until you only reward when they lie down after you have cued them.
Luring involves using a treat along with the clicker. Have your dog sit. Take a treat in one hand and hold it in front of their nose. Move your hand/treat down towards the floor, clicking if your dog follows and lies down. If they don't go down all the way you can move the treat out in front of your dog which often leads to them lying down. Click as soon as they lie down and then give the treat.
If your dog doesn't make it all the way down you can break the exercise down, clicking and rewarding when they follow the treat part way to the floor, gradually increasing the distance they move down before clicking.
Once they are following the treat down reliably, add the down command at the start of the exercise. Gradually phase out the luring, until your dog lies down on command, rewarding only when they have lain on command.
Once your dog can lie down on command you should move onto the "down stay", where they stay in the down position until you release them. This exercise again takes time, the length of the down and the distance you are from them being gradually increased. Command your dog to lie down, but don't click immediately, wait a second or two, then click. If your dog gets up, don't reward or click, just start the exercise over again. Gradually increase the time before you reward. Remember to use a release word to let your dog know that they can get up.
Training your dog to lie down should be fun and should be practiced regularly to sharpen the skill. You can practice the down, and other commands informally during the day - just ask your dog to sit, or lie down and praise when they do.
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