How to teach a dog to lie down? Positive collaboration
When starting training, we must be aware that dog training should be based only on positive methods of cooperation, including friendly treatment, fair and consistent action, skilful use of incentives and rewarding elements, e.g. treats, praise, games. When training a pet, methods involving domination and coercion and causing stress should be excluded. Dogs get to know the world on the basis of simple stimuli and cause-effect associations. If learning is associated with a reward for the quadruped, then he will be eagerly participating in the next exercises.
Therefore, in order to teach your pet to respond to the command "lie down", it should be encouraged, not forced!
Why teach a dog to lie down on command?
Training the dog in the command "lie down" should be started after he has mastered sitting down on the signal. The dog's adoption of a squat or lying posture stimulates his surrogate behavior and can prove useful in a number of everyday situations. After the dog has mastered the command "lie down", it is much easier to control your pet and distract him from problematic events. This applies in particular to a situation when the quadruped starts to be ruled by emotions and his natural instinct is exposed. The command "lie down" will also be useful in public places, for example when you meet another dog or cat, or a cyclist during a walk. However, carrying out the command "lie down" in these circumstances will require a lot of advancement in mastering it.
How to teach your dog to lie down in a few simple steps
1st step - make your dog lie down with a delicacy:
Start the training with making the dog bend its front paws - with a gesture of the hand. You will get the best result by holding his favorite treat in your hand. Then, slowly lower the hand with the delicacy, moving it between the front paws. If the dog makes a substitute for a "bow" and lowers his elbows to the ground, then praise him and give him a reward. Repeat this step so that your pet masters it well. Do not give him another reward until the dog has not only the front paws but also the back part of the body on the ground. When this is mastered, pet it and reward it with the treats out from our smax bag :). You should remember to release the dog from the command by entering the password "end" or "slack".
2nd step - lead the dog with an empty hand:
Once your pet has mastered the first exercise, follow the same steps as the first. Now, however, guide the dog to the "lie down" position without any delicacy. Keep the treat in your other hand or in a sachet. When the pooch lies down, you must praise and reward him immediately.
3rd step - limit the hand gesture:
At this stage, reduce the movement of your hand to showing the palm with outstretched fingers pointing downwards. Use your fingers to direct the dog to lie down. Do not use your whole body to guide your dog into lying down. Remember about the reward for your pet. You can then start your exercise by showing the command from a distance.
4th step - add a verbal command:
After your pet has mastered the non-verbal command, join it with the voice command "lie down". At the beginning, remember to use both forms together: by voice and hand gesture. If with time the dog starts to do this exercise correctly, try to give only the verbal command "lie down". Be sure to reward each pet lying down on command. Then the dog will know that he is doing it well. Do not forget to end the exercise with the "end" command.
Practicing the command "lie down" in various situations
The training of the dog to execute the command "lie down" described in the above steps must be carried out in a suitable place. Preferably in an environment where the dog feels safe and there is nothing to distract him. You should also ensure a stable and comfortable training surface, on which the dog's paws will not spread. After your pet has mastered the command "lie down" in a calm environment, you can start learning in more difficult circumstances, introducing various distracting and distracting elements. It may be the presence of other household members, guests or other animals. In the next stage, the exercise can also be conducted outside the home, starting from a quiet place.
How to teach a dog to lie down? A few tips
- Remember that teaching a dog to follow commands requires only positive methods by the handler. You cannot punish your pet for its failures, e.g. a problem with incorrect signal reading. You need to be patient and positive, because your quadruped will quickly sense your nervousness and stress, which in turn may destroy the effects that have been achieved by then.
- Each exercise should be conducted for no more than 15 minutes. Being longer, it causes the dog to get tired and unwilling to obey commands. It is also important to stick to only one command. Instead of the command "lie down" you can use "down", but only one word should be selected as this will ensure the best results.
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