Originally Posted By: Cassidys Mom
Originally Posted By: DSuddIs he too young for this one or am I doing something wrong?
Not too young, but as Tracy said, it can take a little time for it all to click. In the meantime try this method of capturing behaviors from my earlier post:
Quote:In addition, I marked (usually with a clicker, but also with my voice) and tossed them a treat when they laid down on their own. They figured out that laying down earned a reward, so they did it more frequently. When I could see that they were just about to lay down I'd give the command "down", wait for the exact second elbows and butt hit the floor, then click/treat so that they learned to associate the verbal cue with the behavior.
If you don't have a clicker, use a verbal marker (Yes!). I'd just hang out and watch, and the second they laid down I marked and treated. If you want to get multiple repetitions, toss the treat just far enough away that he has to get up to get it, and then wait for him to lay down again. Once he seems to have the idea, start adding the command when you can see that he's just about to lay down, and then gradually progress to giving the command when he's just standing there, and WAIT. Eventually he'll lay down (have patience!), and then immediately mark and reward.
If you want "down" to mean stay in a down position until I release you or give you another command (such as sit), you don't want to toss the treat out of reach too long because you don't want to encourage him getting up before you tell him to. But it's a good way to start because if he lays down and stays there you don't get as many opportunities to reward him for laying down.
To transition him to staying in place until released, make him stay for a few seconds with calm slow praise, (not your marker word), and steady treat reinforcement, then give the release word.