In which the clicker serves as a marker of desired behavior.īe patient - Training a dog can be exhausting and repetitive, but patience is necessary to ensure your dog ends each training session more confident and knowledgeable.Įnsure the surface they lie on is comfortable - If you’re repeatedly training your dog to lie down on an uncomfortable surface, like hot concrete, cold bathroom tile or even wet grass, consider practicing somewhere more pleasant. Before working on any training, consider a long walk or romp in the yard to tire them out.Ĭonsider clicker training - Some dog owners and trainers swear by clicker training, a form of positive reinforcement dog training Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. If your dog is full of energy, they’re more likely to be distracted and irritable. And that may be especially true when training. Train when your puppy is tired - You’ve probably heard people say a tired dog is a good dog. Forcing them to do anything at all can also make them fearful of you, and your goal should always be to train your dog to be more confident Trusted Source American Kennel Club (AKC) Registry of purebred dog pedigrees.
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Every dog is unique, but here are some tips to help your training.ĭon’t force them into position - As tempting as it may be to “show” your dog how to maneuver themselves into “down,” your attempts may actually encourage them to resist pressure and do the opposite. However, learning “down” can be challenging for dogs that are high-energy or hyperactive, or dogs that simply find it hard to absorb new information. Repeat until your dog masters this step.ĭogs typically enjoy being trained or tasked with a job. Once your dog’s belly touches the ground, you can reward them with a treat you kept hidden in your other hand or simply pull a few out of your pocket.Ĭongratulations! You’ve now taught your dog to go from sitting to lying down using a hand signal. Step 6: Now lure your pup with an empty handĭon’t worry, your dog will eventually forgive you for this! Now that they’ve made it this far, get the puppy back into a seated position and lure them downward, into the same “L” shape, with an empty hand and lots of praise. Repeat until this, too, begins to feel too easy. Make the “L” shape, and once your dog’s belly touches the ground, use the non-lure hand to reward them. This time, let them see the lured treat in one hand but keep another treat hidden in your other hand. Once your dog has mastered the above exercise without being distracted, get them back into a seated position.
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Step 5: Switch it up with a treat in both hands Repeat this basic treat-based sit-to-lie exercise until your puppy can easily follow your lead without being distracted. Step 3: Reward your dog when downĪs soon as your dog’s belly touches the ground, use your hand to reward them with the treat, praising your pup as you do with a verbal command like “yes!” or a click if you are training with a clicker. If your dog has not yet learned to sit on cue, you can either train them to lie down from a standing position and focus on the “L” shape technique or first teach them to sit using the steps outlined below. This motion will teach them to maintain contact and follow your lead. While your dog is sitting, hold the treat in front of their nose with one hand to get their attention, then slowly move the treat-filled hand downward toward the floor and away from your puppy, forming an invisible “L” shape.