How to teach a dog to lie down?

Raising a dog is very important. An attentive owner should approach this issue with the utmost responsibility. The command "lie down" is considered one of the basic, and most breeds learn it rather quickly. The right approach to your pet will provide the desired result.

Quite a difficult skill for a young and active pet. Basically, the command "Lie down" means that the dog must stop all movement and calm down. Learning plays a key role in a dog's development. The real benefits of a skill can be determined by the following situations:

• a pet that is accustomed to lying down for a long time at the command of the owner behaves excellently in public transport;
• in any emergency or emergency situation, the life and health of the dog and its owners may depend on the precise execution of commands;
• a dog will more easily calm down in the presence of a bitch in heat if he knows how to follow a command;
• performing at an exhibition or competition involves demonstrating teams, and if awards are to be won, obedience is key.

Then the command "Lie down" will help to calm down the animal during a fight or hunting... In any situation where the dog must stop being active, this skill is appropriate. The dog must obey the command in all life situations, even when playing and eating.

Learning is especially effective in early childhood. Basic training should be done as early as 2-3 months. Animals in adulthood are much more difficult to train. The “Lie down” command should reach the ideal by 4 months. The exact time to learn the skill depends on the breed and character of the particular dog.

You need to train your dog consistently. It is important to decide exactly on the method that is suitable for a particular pet. It will be easier to teach the command to lie down if you follow certain rules.

• First, choose the most peaceful place. It is better to teach the animal on the street rather than at home. Choose an area with clean soil, free of dirt.
• During training, you need to become an authority for the dog, not a tyrant. Do not use brute physical force, exclude cruelty.
• Make sure the command is executed correctly, do not make indulgences. Otherwise, it will be almost impossible to retrain over time.
• The voice command must be pronounced before lowering the pet to the ground. The treat is given after the action is completed.
• If the dog gets up on his own, it is necessary to return it to a lying position and repeat the command.
• You should not immediately try to lay your pet for a long time. It makes no sense to demand a lot of endurance at the very beginning.
• Do not force the dog to demonstrate skill throughout the walk, everything should be in moderation.
• After execution, you need to release the animal with the "Walk" command, but not "To me". The latter belongs to the category of pleasant ones, which will reduce endurance when performing the lying skill.
• It is much easier to train a dog that already knows how to stand or sit.
• Do not use the command in conjunction with others. Especially in the same sequence. Otherwise, the pet will perform the necessary actions only in conjunction.

Teaching a dog to command requires an individual approach. It is easier to train a puppy, however, an adult pet is trainable. It's just that in the second case, it will take a little more time to achieve the desired result. For training, you need a certain inventory.

1. Collar - is a kind of attribute of power and allows you to control the actions of the dog.
2. Leash - performs almost the same role as the previous subject. It will be needed not only during the training itself, but also on the way to the place and back home.
3. Delicacy - favorite food in the form of pieces of cheese or meat, crackers or dry food. It is important that the dog is hungry, otherwise the treat will not evoke the proper emotions.
4. Positive attitude - is of particular importance, because the dog feels the state of the owner. The pet should feel understood and supported.

Depending on the age and characteristics of the dog, there are 4 main methods to learn the "Lie down" command.

The first method is suitable for both puppies and adults. It is simple and pleasant, dogs perceive it positively. The starting position should be standing or sitting. Let's consider the algorithm of actions.

1. Get into a comfortable position close to the dog, which is in a relaxed position.
2. Take a treat in your hand. You can clench it in a fist or demonstrate it to your pet in the palm of your hand.
3. Lower the treat lower to the ground so the dog will reach for it.
4. Give the command "Lie down" and wait for the animal to lie down.
5. Give a treat.
6. Wait about 5 seconds, and say the command "Walk". This allows the dog to stand up. If the dog gets up without permission, then return it to the desired position with slight coercion, but do not encourage it with goodies.

Not all dogs are ready to obey commands. Sometimes, due to age or character, the dog simply does not lie down after the treat. For training such pets, there is a second method that takes into account this feature.

1. Stand next to a calm pet.
2. Show a treat in your hand, let it sniff.
3. Place your hand down and lightly pull the leash towards the ground. Additionally, you can use your hand on the withers to lay the dog down. Say the command “Lie down” aloud.
4. As soon as the pet lies down, give a treat.
5. Wait a little and release the dog with the "Walk" command.

The third training method is similar to the previous one and involves the use of a leash. Designed for animals that know the command to lie down, but are reluctant to follow it. It is also a great method for reinforcing a skill. You need to train like this:

• the dog must stand or sit on the left leg of the owner;
• take the leash in your right hand so that it sags;
• step on the leash with your left foot to pull the animal to the ground, say the command “Lie down”;
• praise the dog for doing it, release it with another command after a while.

Quite an interesting and fun way is to lay the dog down by stretching the front legs.

Great for young dogs who want more contact with their owner. Do this:

• the dog should stand or sit quietly in front of the owner;
• go down to the level to the pet and pull it by the front paws, act smoothly and gently so as not to hurt;
• when the dog starts to descend, say the command;
• as soon as the dog is in a lying position, give a treat.

Training at first should be aimed at practicing the technique itself. Hold the dog in the desired position for about 5 seconds and release it on the "Walk" command. It is important to train the animal not to get up on its own. After the skill is established, it is necessary to increase the time and distance. The owner should move away from the dog and keep it in the supine position for several minutes.

When the pet has begun to execute the command well, it is worth adding gestures to the words "Lie down" and "Walk". In the first case, the owner usually puts his hand down, and in the second, he raises it up. Over time, the animal will learn to do an action by gesture, without words. This skill is very useful and will definitely come in handy.

The wrong approach to pet training can lead to complete disobedience and misunderstanding. In this case, mistakes are unforgivable. If the dog begins to perceive the owner with fear or associates the command with pain and discomfort, then he will never follow it again. When teaching, it is important to take into account a number of nuances.

• Repeating the same command several times is harmful. The dog must understand the call the first time, no compromises are allowed. The animal begins to perceive the owner frivolously if he repeats the same thing 10 times. Moreover, in the mind of the pet, an understanding may develop that an action should be taken only after a certain number of commands.
• It is imperative to cancel the command. Choose a word or gesture to signal your pet to get up. It will be a lot of hassle over time if the dog will terminate the action without permission. Discipline should be maximized.
• Excessive rewards are detrimental to learning. Only the correct execution of the command should entail a delicacy. Take away the privileges of your dog during training to maximize obedience.
• Rudeness and cruelty are the key mistakes of inexperienced owners. If the dog does not understand you or does not want to follow the command, then do not be angry, perhaps the pet needs a special approach.
• It is necessary to monitor the condition of the dog. If your pet is tired, it is best to end the training session. Otherwise, coercion can cause negative reactions.

For information on how to teach a dog to lie down, see the next video.