Down Down is a great cue that teaches the dog to relax even in stressful situations. Combining this cue with the 'stay' cue provides for a great control tool for the owner.
1. Equip yourself with some highly reinforcing treats. 2. Start with the dog sitting. Lure the dog into a down by slowly lowering the treat right under her nose. When the dog is on the ground - praise and treat. 3. Repeat 10 to 15 times while reducing the amount of hand movement needed to get the dog to the down position. 4. Once the dog is comfortable at doing the 'down' with the lure, start trying to fade the lure. Just put the treat down and wait. If the dog does the behavior, treat generously. 6. Now we can add the word 'down' as the cue. Start saying the word while the behavior is occurring and gradually say it earlier and earlier.
