How to Train Your Dog to “Get Down”

Hello! How are you! I'm Jazz.

If you're used to seeing a lot of visitors, you probably wish that your dog had an "off" button. Whether your dog is too friendly or too aggressive against outsiders, do you really expect that your dog will listen to your commands if you haven't taught the dog what these commands mean? You might expect that a dog eventually understands what "down" means, but if you only say it when your dog barks at a visitor, your dog might believe "down" means "start barking!" So how do you get your dog to stay down?

First, set aside some daily time for training with your dog - some people recommend about a half an hour. You can bring your dog into your living room while you watch TV if you can't get away from watching "The Simpsons." Attach a leash to your dog's collar so that you can control the dog and make sure it doesn't get away. Don't try to train your dog from a distance; make sure you can exert some power with your upper body and arms.

Now, with a firm voice, announce "Down!" and bring your dog down to its belly. Try to just say it once; remember that you're teaching your dog to respond to the command once it's been said, not once it's been said five times. If your dog is already submissive and responds to your presence, you shouldn't have a problem getting the dog down to its belly. If it resists, however, try to remain calm and don't repeat your command. Don't give up - if you do, you'll just be teaching your dog how to get out of its training.

It's fine if your dog gets up again - simply bring it back down to the ground. It should get used to the idea that once you say "Down," the dog isn't to get back up again until you release it. Having the leash attached to the collar will help keep the dog under control, especially if it tries to get away. Once your allotted time has passed and the dog has stayed down (hopefully by now it should be comfortably waiting near you, relaxing), reward it for good behavior by saying good dog and removing the collar. Now the dog knows that when you say "Down," you are serious about it.

Continue to perform this training on a daily basis until the dog intuitively understands what "down" means. Occasionally mix in a treat at the end of a session to give the dog a more powerful motivator for future sessions - but make sure never to bribe your dog ahead of time.

Photo Credits: Johnny Jet

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