“Down” is one of the most popular obedience commands to teach. In this blog, we discuss teaching your puppy the ‘down’ command through distractions, distance, and duration.
Why the down command matters
The “down” command is a practical skill that dogs will use daily. The down command can help with:
- Trying to enjoy dinner without a paw on your lap
- Keeping your puppy still during vet visits
- Helping your puppy settle at a restaurant
Keeping your puppy calm while you are sitting in the park.
The Three Ds can help develop your puppy’s obedience skills.
To improve your puppy’s reliability with the down command, introduce challenges using the three D’s: distractions, distance, and duration. This helps your puppy remain calm in various situations. After all, just because your puppy will perform down in your kitchen, it doesn’t mean they will listen in a busy vet office where they are feeling anxious. Practicing the three D’s will help your puppy stay in the down position when it matters most.
Always increase difficulty one “D” at a time, and make sure to reward your puppy during the difficult moments. If your puppy is unsuccessful, bring them back to the down position and try to duplicate the situation that made them break. Reward them when they do the right thing!
Now let’s discuss the three D’s in more detail:
Distance
Your puppy may flawlessly stay down when near you, but do they listen when they are on the other side of the room? Gradually increasing the distance between you and your puppy during training helps prepare your puppy for real-life situations where they can’t be directly beside you. This can be useful when having them in a down position while you cook, or when sitting down at a cafe.
Duration
When teaching down, you should focus on increasing the amount of time your puppy can stay in position. This will help your puppy with impulse control and patience. With regular practice, your puppy will learn that the ‘down’ command isn’t just a five-second posture; they should stay in position for as long as needed. Teaching duration is helpful in situations such as vet visits and when making a phone call.
Distractions
For a curious puppy, there are many distractions that could get them out of the down position. Your cat could walk past the kitchen, pedestrians might walk past the table at the cafe, or they may try to get closer while you’re cooking in hopes of grabbing any food you spill. Teaching your puppy to ignore distractions requires regular practice and patience. However, it is very important so that you can develop a reliable ‘down’ command, allowing your puppy to be taken out to different places, such as a park or restaurant.
We are here to help
Are you struggling to teach “Down” to your puppy? Or do you need help teaching your puppy other obedience commands and manners? The good news, you don’t have to face it alone.
At Beyond the Dog, our training is science-based and backed by over 20 years of experience. Co-founded by Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). All of our training programs are offered through one-on-one sessions at your home or local neighborhood, depending on your training goals. We’d love to help. Schedule a free consult today.”
