Down (Lie Down)
Teaching Bryn to lie down on cue — a calm, stable position that's the foundation for settle and place work.
Adolescent Note
Down can feel vulnerable to an adolescent dog who wants to be ready for action. If she starts resisting a down she used to do easily, go back to high-value rewards and don't force it. Make down the most rewarding position she can be in.
Training Stages
Use a treat to guide Bryn from a sit into a down position.
- Start with Bryn in a sit.
- Hold a treat at her nose, then slowly lower it straight down to the floor between her front paws.
- When the treat reaches the floor, slowly drag it toward you along the ground. Her body should follow into a down.
- The instant her elbows touch the floor, mark ("yes!") and deliver the treat.
Advance When
Bryn follows the lure into a full down (elbows and belly on the floor) 8 out of 10 times.
Watch Out
Moving the treat too fast — go slow enough that she follows smoothly rather than lunging.
Luring forward instead of down. The treat should go straight to the floor first, then slide toward you.
Tips
If she stands up instead of lying down, you're pulling the treat too far forward. Keep it between her paws.
Some dogs find it easier to learn down from standing rather than sitting. Try both.
Pair the verbal cue "down" with the behavior.
- Say "down" once, then lure.
- Mark and treat when she lies down.
- Gradually reduce the lure: big hand motion → smaller motion → just pointing at the floor → verbal only.
- Test the verbal cue alone. Wait 5 seconds before helping.
Advance When
Bryn lies down on the verbal cue alone, 8 out of 10 times, in a low-distraction environment.
Watch Out
Using "down" to mean both 'lie down' and 'get off the couch.' Pick one word for each behavior.
Hovering over her while cueing — this can feel threatening. Stand upright or kneel to the side.
Tips
Down is inherently a vulnerable position. Make it feel safe and rewarding.
Practice on a soft surface initially — lying on cold tile is less appealing.
Use down in real-life situations and start proofing.
- Practice down at different locations: every room, the yard, on walks (find a quiet spot).
- Ask for down on different surfaces: carpet, grass, concrete.
- Begin pairing down with a mat or towel for future place/settle training.
- Gradually add mild distractions.
Advance When
Bryn lies down on cue in at least 3 different environments, on different surfaces, with mild distractions present.
Watch Out
Only practicing on carpet. She needs to learn that down works everywhere.
Expecting long duration too soon — that's a separate skill (stay).
Tips
A down on a mat is the gateway to the incredibly useful place/settle skill.
Reward Bryn for choosing to lie down on her own throughout the day — this reinforces calmness.
Proofing — The 3 Ds
⏱
Duration
Initially, just mark the down and release.
📏
Distance
Start next to her, then 2 ft, 5 ft, across the room.
🐿️
Distraction
Quiet room → room with mild activity → backyard → on walks (find a calm spot).
Generalization
Practice on at least 5 different surfaces and in 5 different locations. Down on grass feels very different from down on concrete. If she hesitates in a new place, help with the lure and reward heavily.
Troubleshooting
Bryn does a 'play bow' instead of a full down
She's stopping halfway. Wait her out — keep the treat on the floor and let her figure out that elbows on the floor is what pays. Don't mark the play bow.
Bryn won't lie down on hard or cold surfaces
Bring a towel or mat. It's reasonable for her to prefer a soft surface. Once she understands the behavior well, she'll generalize to other surfaces with practice.
Related Skills
Sit
The simplest position cue and often the first skill a dog learns — a building block for impulse control and polite greetings.
Stay / Wait
Teaching Bryn to hold her current position until released — the backbone of impulse control and safety.
Place / Settle
Teaching Bryn to go to a designated spot and relax there — an essential life skill for calm household behavior and public outings.