Overview

Lying down is one of the harder commands for dogs to learn, but it's very useful. Dogs who understand 'down' are much more welcome in cafes and other public places, and much more pleasant to have near the dinner table. 'Down' is also a handy command if you want to keep your dog in place for a while: it takes more energy to get up from a down than a sit, so dogs are less likely to break the position.

Steps to teaching "down"

Find a quiet spot free of distractions.
Ask your dog to sit. (Later on you can teach him to lie down from standing, but it's easiest to start from a sit.)
Holding a food lure near your pup's nose, say "Down," and slowly bring your hand straight down to the ground between his front paws.
If your dog sinks into a down position immediately: say "Yes" and reward him with a bit of food. If your pup doesn't follow the lure right away: keep your hand on the floor, covering the food, and give him a moment to figure it out. He'll probably lie down soon; reward him enthusiastically when he does!
Repeat several times.
Gradually make it more challenging by adding, one at a time, the three D's: duration, distance, and distraction. First, duration: each time your pooch lies down on command, on the next try add one second to the delay between when he hits the floor and when you deliver the reward. Then, distance: stand one step further away from your dog each time you give the command. Finally, add in distractions, such as facing a different direction or bouncing a ball.
Go slowly when adding challenges, and if your dog ever goofs, go back a step until he's getting it right again.

DogTime tip: It's easiest to teach dogs 'down' from a sitting position, but as soon as your dog's got the idea, practice the command from standing. If you ever have to give an emergency 'Down!' command, you'll want your dog to obey from any position.

Veterinarian and animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar and his wife, dog trainer Kelly Dunbar, collaborate on DogStarDaily.com, OpenPaw.org, and DogTime, where they serve as contributing editors. They're dedicated to strengthening the bond between people and their dogs through training in order to keep dogs in their original homes and out of shelters.

Troubleshooting

Your dog just won't lie down:

There are a few possible explanations. Some dogs, especially bony or hairless ones, find the cold, hard floor unappealing, in which case spreading a bath mat or towel beneath them can help. It's also possible they just don't get what you're asking. Try putting a smaller dog on a steady chair or table, or any sized dog on the top of a set of stairs, so you can lower the lure lower below his nose to make the message clearer.

Your dog won't lie down completely:
Try bringing the treat down between your dog's paws, and then ever so slightly toward his nose. This often makes dogs sink a little lower.

Your dog stands up and walks forward:
You may be accidentally pulling the treat forward. Make sure you're lowering the treat from a position right in front of your dog's nose straight down to the ground.

Go back to Dog Training Center

Related training information

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Dog training: Stay

Dog training: Walking on-leash

Dog training: Heeling on-leash

Dog training: Tricks

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Raising a good dog

Housetraining 101

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Raising a friendly dog

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Teaching your dog to be alone

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Preventing destructive chewing and biting

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Training for basic obedience

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What to expect

The 'down' command is challenging for most dogs, so expect it to take longer to learn than 'sit.' Smaller dogs tend to have more trouble, perhaps because the range of motion with the food lure is smaller, making it harder for dogs to follow, or because small dogs are often bouncier.

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