So I've always had trouble getting Sage to lay down on command, and especially when i don't have a treat usually it requires me to get right in her face in order for her to go down. So when she does start to lay down it's a very slow down, meaning she crouches and slowly lowers her body to the floor, meanwhile i have to keep saying down and point at the floor or else she will just stop mid way down and stay there. How do i correct this? I want her to hit the deck with no more of this slow half stuff. But i can't seem to get the idea of doing it quickly across to her. Any tips or experience with this?
Thanks, and i tried searching but didn't see anything about my problem.
LOL Wish I could help but I have the opposite problem! I say "HERO DOWN" and he does a little bunny hop then dives on the ground like a pounce! but then he gets right back up! The more I work with him (every day 10-15 mins a day 2-3x a day) he is getting better.
Haha i bet that's fun to watch! Yeah I've worked on it for a long time and she hasn't rotten it, so i thought maybe i need some advice and a new way to try it
How old is she? Are you making it FUN and rewarding AS SOON as she's completely down? Be enthusiastic and make a game out of it. Try to get her excited and move around a lot.
She is almost 5 months. Well it's definitely rewarding cause i give her a treat every time she goes down. I could probably try to make it more fun though
It was pretty funny to watch the first few times and now its like OK I GET IT you LOVE laying down!! lol Maybe i need to try something new in addition to lay down.... hmmm maybe roll over hahahah
You don't repeat the command..You say down, point to the ground, keep tapping the ground until she does it...it could take seconds or it can take a minute...welcome to the world of blood rushing to the head She will paw you, kiss you, and anything else in between, just be firm, keep tapping the ground and DO NOT REPEAT the command
If she understands the word, use a toy or tug instead...play tug, out her and then tease her up. Give her the down command(only ONCE) and mark it when she does it. Then start tugging again. If you say the command over and over it loses strength. If she is down in a straight posture, push the toy into her and say down/back which should make her bounce back in the down position. That may help her do it faster from a sit or a stand.
Ramp her up good to get the faster positions.
Edit, I see she's in teething mode, so tug should be gentle, but it still can be done gently if pup likes that game.
click that link, it does work....
If she understands the word, use a toy or tug instead...play tug, out her and then tease her up. Give her the down command(only ONCE) and mark it when she does it. Then start tugging again. If you say the command over and over it loses strength. If she is down in a straight posture, push the toy into her and say down/back which should make her bounce back in the down position. That may help her do it faster from a sit or a stand.
Ramp her up good to get the faster positions.
Edit, I see she's in teething mode, so tug should be gentle, but it still can be done gently if pup likes that game.
Yes, try to remember that she's just a baby, and if it's not FUN, you won't be able to keep her interested. If you're just standing there holding the treat and saying "down" in a flat stern voice, she has probably gotten bored with the game. I use a high pitched voice, and move around and make a big deal when they follow through with the command. Treat, praise, rubs when they complete the command. Moving around keeps her attention on you and interest on what you're doing. Extra praise adds more incentive to the game. Some dogs need more to get them going.
Ok i will try just saying the command once, and keep doing the hand signal. I've tried getting her all excited but when i have treats out she will do nothing but stare at my hands or where the treats are and she doesn't care if i jump around and go crazy or not lol
If she doesn't know the hand signal this won't work either, she has to learn it, but she has to learn to lay down first. I would put her in a sit, tell her down(you can use the hand signal here, but I wouldn't over do it), when she looks at you like your crazy, bend over and point to the ground and keep tapping the ground(at first have the treat in the hand that is tapping the ground, she will smell it and try to get it) After you do this a couple times, she will start understanding the hand signal and the command together.
I like to have treat in hand, lure my pup down, then say down when she's down, click and give treat! then I would have her "stay" then take a couple steps back and walk back to her and click for another treat. That helped a lot w/her keeping her position. Then I would run and say "come" so she would run after me or another treat! Another way I have her stay down longer is after she's in the "down" position I keeping clicking every few seconds for keeping the position! What type of treats are you using? I've tried many different kinds and boiled chicken breasts works best for me!
I had an adult dog come into my classes for training that HATED to down. He had been taught harshly as a young dog. So we made a game of it. I put a great in my hand, under my thumb and pressed against the palm, but keeping the other 4 fingers straight. My hand would go up next to my shoulder as the signal to down, then would come down on the dog. If he downed, he got the treat, if not he was pushed gently into position. He quickly caught on to going down fast meant he got the treat faster.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
German Shepherds Forum
2.6M posts
121.9K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to all German Shepherd owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bloodlines, training, breeding, service dogs, and more!