With positive reenforcement you could teach your andiron a passing useful “ down ” cue that will prepare your whelp for learning even more nifty skills .
When teaching dog breeding classes , especially fortherapy dogs , " down " is one of the top five pool cue I like to center on . That ’s because teaching your dog the behavior of lying down is so useful in a variety of contexts .
A downcuecan be used as the construction mental block for your dog to ascertain other fun behaviors and tricks like " roll over " or " go - to - bottom . " It ’s also the foot for teach your cad to loosen up or reside by you when fellowship comes over — or when you desire to take your pup with you to arestaurant patio .
Photo: Jason Donnelly
When you watch these simple and quick steps , and create chance forpositive support , your cad will get a line to lie down on cue in no prison term at all !
Things to Have Ready Before You Start
Really Good Reinforcers and a Marker
Areinforcer(or sometimes called a " reward " ) is something your Canis familiaris have it off and prosperous for you to give . For 99 percentage of dogs this is some kind of intellectual nourishment or diminished , tasty treat . Foods like deletion - uphot dogs , small pieces of cheese ( if your dog-iron does n’t have a sensitive stomach ) , lunch meat , or store - bought training treats are all good options . Let your dog pick . Your domestic dog should be able to settle which type of reinforcer , handle or piece of food , they need to have .
Amarker(orconditioned stimulus ) is a sound or signal that pinpoint ( mark ) the accurate moment your dog did something that earned them a reinforcement ( the treat ) . Aclickeris a not bad example of a conditioned mark . If you do n’t have a clicker you’re able to use a consistent word like " yes " or"good " or a optic signal like a thumbs up , but pickoneand stick to it .
Mark the behavior the second you see it . The more accurate and quick your home run is , the more good your teaching becomes . ( For the aim of this clause , we ’ll employ the word " click " to argue when you mark a behavior . If you practice a different marker , just do that or else of clicking . )
Jason Donnelly
3 Easy Steps to Teach Your Dog to Lie Down on Cue
1. Lure Your Dog into a Lying Down Position
It ’s easier to start if you ’ve alreadytaught your dog how to siton clue . Ask your click to " sit " and then when he is sitting in front of you , expend a treat to lure him into a lie down down position . Luringis when you practice something your dog will follow , like a treat , to move them into a place . Hold the treat in front of your dog ’s olfactory organ and slowly lower it downward so that your dog ’s nozzle is manoeuvre between their paws and the delicacy touch the floor . Your Canis familiaris will likely endeavor to " follow " with their nose , resulting in them lowering their front legs , then their back legs . The second their belly touches the floor , click , and provide the reinforcing stimulus ( treat ) . retell this a few prison term until your dog begin to counter the motion of the delicacy and starts to move into a downward posture , with his belly touching the floor .
Pro Trainer Tip : The quicker you flick and then provide a kickshaw the better ( one click , one treat ! ) . avert any lag prison term between the suction stop and the deliverance of the kickshaw , otherwise you execute the risk of your dog not intellect which conduct earn them a delicacy . For instance , if he gets back up before you click and treat , he may think he earn the delicacy for get up , not lie in down .
2. Add a Visual Cue
Now you may summate a visual cue ( hand signal ) , fading out the goody hook . Pick your hand signal — a fingerbreadth point downwards or your undefended bridge player with laurel wreath confront down works great . Without a treat in your hand , slowly salute your signal in a downwards movement , same as you didwitha treat in your hand in the previous whole step . The moment your blackguard lay down , snap , and right away give them a kickshaw . Repeat .
Pro Trainer Tip : It ’s important to blow over out the treat enticement as soon as you may and only use the delicacy as a reinforcer once your dog has mastered the visual cue .
3. Add a Verbal Cue
To add a verbal cue , say the clew " down " and then immediately give your hand signal . The moment your dog begins to lay down , mark the behavior ( click ) and give the treat . echo this a few meter . Once your dog begins to understand that saying the word " down " and using a hand signal imply the same behaviour , you could use either , decide which cue you prefer ( or better yet , your Canis familiaris does ) in dissimilar setting . Since dogs pay aid to the whole picture ( your full body ) during a learning academic session , teaching them both a visual pool stick and verbal pool cue raise communicating between you and your dog and can avail forestall confusion .
Pro Trainer Tip : Be sure to not say the verbal pool cue for down at the same time you show your optical cue . Otherwise , your dog check that both cues must be give together before they do the conduct . And check that everyone in your household are using the same cue .
Through the power of cocksure reinforcement you may instruct your dog to lie down — and all sort of other handy skills and behaviors . With each new learned behaviour , your dog becomes a confident , happy canine , quick to accompany you on many adventure .
Jason Donnelly
Jason Donnelly
Jason Donnelley
