Teaching a dog to lie down is an important part of obedience training for any dog. It is often the next stage of training, as it is not the first command you will delve into when first starting. It can help you to relax your dog, teach them patience, or even be a stepping stone to additional training. Let’s find out why you should train your dog to lie down and easy steps to take. 

What Are The Benefits Of Teach A Dog To Lay Down? 

There are many benefits for both your dog and owner to teaching this command. These include the following: 

  • Comfortable Position: The down position is often a relaxed state for a dog, as this is how they will progress into their sleep state. 
  • Harder Position To Spring Up: Laying down, your dog has to take extra steps to spring up into a leap or excited stance. 
  • Easier To Perform Grooming: Most grooming tasks require your dog to be in the laying down position, making it easier for the groomer to do their job in a timely and easy manner. 
  • Additional Tricks: Other commands, such as rollover, require your dog to be in the laying down position to perform. This skill can lead to additional training. 
  • Helps calm a dog down: As previously mentioned, laying rather than sitting is the preference for a reactive dog as it is harder for them to leap up from this position, which can help your dog stay calmer for longer. 

Easy Steps For Lie Down Training 

We have collated steps to follow to start the process of teaching your dog to lie down. To do this, it is preferential that your dog knows the command sit very well because it will make this process easier for you to do. 

  1. First, get your dog into the sit position. This will help the motion to the floor easier for your dog to action. They will most likely be calmer and more attentive in not standing. 
  2. Have a treat in your hand and ensure it’s something more smelly or that they enjoy. This is because the nose is important in this motion, so recognisable and stronger smells can be more effective. 
  3. Move the treat from the nose down to the floor – going from the nose to the dog’s chest, to in between their paws. Keep the treat at nose level and ensure you are moving with your dog in full motion. Start again if your dog has too much hesitation or doesn’t go fully down into the relaxed position. 
  4. Practice this motion repeatedly – usually small sessions will work better to keep your dog’s attention span and not be unproductive.  
  5. Introduce the word down with the motion and ensure you are speaking clearly and effectively so you dog associate the word with the motion.  
  6. When your dog is lying down, give them the treat. This will ensure positive reinforcement in the training process. 
  7. Introduce stay training to get your dog to lie down for longer. Once your dog has the motion down and will do the action, you want them to stay there until there is a release cue.  
  8. Once your dog does this easily, introduce this command into more busy environments. This can be in the park or when people are around, so your dog will get used to actioning the motion when distractions are present.

What Can Be Difficult About The Down Command? 

There can be some difficulties for dogs, particularly if they’re excitable, and owners may make some mistakes during this training process. 

For Dogs 

  • The surface may be uncomfortable: Getting a dog to lie down on mud, wet grass or rough surfaces may be unpleasant. If they’re showing hesitation, move to a different space to rule this out.  
  • Ensure no injuries: Older dogs or ones with injuries may struggle to do this motion, so you should halt training and consult a vet. 
  • Treat is not enticing enough: Smell is quite important in this process, your dog may not be able to follow the treat properly or be wanting the offer to do the motion. 
  • Energetic dogs may not want to settle: Reactive or energetic dogs may not want to go into their relaxed state and be hesitant to train. You may have to try it at different times of the day or do it in shorter bursts. 

For Owners 

  • Bad environment: Ensure you don’t start off in anywhere busy or distracting, as this can have an adverse effect. 
  • A mixture of commands and lack of consistency: Ensure you are consistent with the word you are saying. If you want the command to be ‘down’ make sure this is said every time to not mix this up. 
  • Giving up too soon: Often, dog training can be difficult for owners if you have time pressures or a more difficult dog. Perseverance is key to getting this right. 
  • Not using a release cue: Your dog may be confused (particularly when getting to the stay stage of this command) about when they should stop the action, which may result in hesitation.  

When Should You Teach A Dog To Lay Down?

It is better to know the sit command first, not only because it is the starting point for laying down, but because they will be used to learning something new. Training a dog is never too late, and you can start from being a puppy. 

Is There A Difference Between Teaching A Puppy Or Adult Dog To Lie Down? 

No, the process of teaching a dog to lie down is the same for both puppy and adult dogs. You may need to repeat the process more or take longer, depending on the dog’s temperament and receptiveness to training in general. Personality takes more into account than the age of the dog for this command. 

What If Your Dog Is Too Stubborn To Learn The Lay-Down Command? 

Dogs can be stubborn and not want to learn, so it is important to engage them in the task. Here, you should ensure it is a really quiet space and try to make it a designated training area so they know that it is time to learn. You can use a variety of methods such as lure training, clicker method and positive reinforcement for this command. 

Find out more about our best training methods for additional tips and tricks.

Lie Down Training With A&T Trained Dogs 

Training can be overly time-consuming and hard to fit into your busy schedule, or previous attempts may not have been as effective as you’d have hoped. This is where a trainer can step in and help! Our specialist team can help build your confidence and train your dog to lie down effectively, no matter their age or temperament. 

With extensive facilities and experience, our team will make a bespoke dog training plan for your dog and give you a thorough handover to extend into the home. Contact us online or call us on 01524 587 315.