Train The “Stay” and
“Down-Stay” Commands

Train the down-stay command because it’s excellent discipline for your dog to learn. The “down” position is useful when your dog gets too rambunctious, jumps up on people or in any way is behaving badly.

A dog in the “down” position can’t get into trouble like running into streets or getting into fights. A tip: It is also good to reinforce the alpha dog positioning you might need now and then.

Use your CLICKER as reinforcement when the dog is doing well when you train a down-stay command with her.

In the beginning, you will have to give some CLICKS for less than perfect performances. Dogs have a way of testing you. They will give you a half-hearted performance sometimes, and sometimes it may be good enough for a CLICK and treat. Just be sure the performance gets better! You want the dog down flat on her belly, muzzle to tail. She’ll try all sorts of variations of that.

When a dog is in the down position, it is most vulnerable because she is flat on her stomach. Some dogs find that position psychologically difficult to accept.

Incidentally, “down” is not to be confused with “off.” “Off” means get off the couch. “Down” means lie down on your stomach.

There are a few different ways to teach down stay this but we will use only one. Bring your clicker and some treats.

To train down stay, put your dog on your left and have her “sit.”

Teaching Down-Stay

Once you get the dog to give you a reliable “down” performance, train a down-stay command to prolong the “stay” time.

Keep a leash on the dog so if she tries to jump and run you can control the situation. It’s been known to happen.

Continue to repeat this exercise over and over in all sorts of distracting places so when you really need the command, it will work for you. This command is almost as important as “come” and you want it to be reliable and effective when needed.

The goal is for the dog to “stay” down for at least 15 minutes or more if you want.

Remember to RELEASE HER! Don’t leave her there. Tell her “OK, good girl, let’s go.”

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