Teach Your Dog To Down On Cue: Easy Shaping With A Bed

Training your dog for a fast and reliable down on cue can be easy! Be sure to visit our video - • 10 Ways To Teach A Dog... - 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring for more tips.
00:00 Using a bed to shape a fast down for your dog.
00:19 Why dog beds work well for this behavior.
00:32 How and what to reinforce in the beginning.
00:45 Benefits of sitting vs. standing when shaping down.
01:40 Rewarding “search” for leaving and resetting.
02:43 Test the behavior.
03:07 Transitioning from sitting - standing - moving when shaping down.
03:45 Fading the bed from the behavior.
04:51 When to add your “down” cue.
06:00 Adding complexity to the down.
Release cues are vital for shaping duration positions like a drop, so check out How To Teach A Dog Stay WITHOUT Luring, Collar Pops Or Using The Word “Stay” - • How To Teach A Dog To ... - to discover the power of the release.
We also have a playlist covering everything you need for sit, down and stand training - • Sit, Down, Stand, Stay...
P.S. Subscribe to our KZbin Channel so you get notifications of new videos!
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Dogs That is brought to you by Susan Garrett and the Say Yes Dog Training Team.
Susan Garrett’s interest in animal behaviour started at the University of Guelph where she earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science. Since then she has developed into a preeminent dog trainer and canine sports instructor and competitor. Susan is one of the most successful agility competitors of the last three decades. She has won multiple Gold Medals at National or World Championship events with every dog she has ever owned over the past 30 years.
A natural teacher and an entertaining speaker, Susan is world renowned as a leading educator of dog trainers. Her understanding of how to apply science-based learning principles to both competitive and family pet dog training has been pivotal in changing how dogs are trained.
Susan is now helping many thousands of dog owners in 132 countries have the best relationship possible with their dogs. The real joy for her comes from bringing confidence to dogs and their owner through playful interactions and relationship building games that are grounded firmly in the science of how animals learn.
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[@DogsThat]

► Watch our video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2qsiX6rmtx9eqc - 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring for more tips. ► Release cues are vital for shaping duration positions like a drop, so check out How To Teach A Dog Stay WITHOUT Luring, Collar Pops Or Using The Word “Stay” - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX_Rn6KngceHsM0 - to discover the power of the release. ► We also have a playlist covering everything you need for sit, down and stand training - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy2cY7Fg3MLUaobkSdnVx0jt

[@sophiesmith5922]

Me too. I was trying for better shaping because there is NEVER a drop to down, but always sit then wiggle down. Poor early training

[@hellcat247]

I had the privilege of watching a friend's puppy the last few days and finally got the chance to implement this game and some of your other techniques as I've been a follower for a while now. Can I just say, wow. In two days he has learnt a pretty good "down"- still needs to work on DASH but he is doing so well. I've also noticed you shifted my mindset totally 😊 at first I was frustrated but then I remembered what Susan says "a puppy is trying to fit into our world, he is doing his best with the knowledge we have taught him". Changed my thinking when I felt myself getting frustrated. And we have bonded majorly, he loves to cuddle up to me and will wander into another room with his chew if I'm there. I also used the info you shared about potty training (he was going reliably on a pad at the back door but I wanted to see if I could help start to transition him outside whilst I was looking after him), day three and he is going outside every time! ❤ I'm so proud of this little guy

[@DogsThat]

Wow, what an awesome job you've done while watching this puppy 💖 Thanks for being such a good friend and for you kind words, we love having you in our community ❤️

[@rachell4307]

I LOVE this because my puppy LOVES this game. I’m so grateful I found you Susan❤️ Thank you for everything you do!!! ✨💫🥰

[@KKKKAAAARRRRYYYYNN]

The behaviors I get are slow so that means my dog is not confident or not motivated. I'm getting better mechanics with your help. We're on hold while she recovers from knee surgery.

[@BearAndKuko]

I've tried a lot of your behavior shaping games, they're effective every single time!!! I love when I can see my pup's wheel turning to make the right choice. Thank you Susan!!

[@joellecollette5843]

Oh my goodness! 2min after watching this video, using cooked liver and an oversized pillow, for the first time my fur baby payed down with no lures. Thank younSO much for sharing your knowledge. God bless ❤️🫶🏽

[@DrSharonAitken]

Such a clever technique

[@SimbA31199]

Thanks Susan. I love this channel. My dog knows how to down ( I use drop) but decided to play and use the word down and no problem at all she just did it. She also transitioned super quick to down from a sit too just as you demonstrated. Amazing!!! I love these games for my dog and for me they aren't over complicated or long.

[@hoopsaugust]

This was really cool, I will try it soon

[@princessdaisy5321]

Just got a abused shelter dog. Am going to do this and follow you and have everyone jealous. Too many people look down on shelter dogs that are return many times. Thank you for sharing

[@nellydim1087]

Thank you!🙏❤😊

[@traceyallen8286]

Great video as always! Off to check out "10 ways to teach....without luring" as I'm in a wheelchair so getting down low isn't an option. I wonder If this is why my dog( Westie) is happy to automatically offer a down in the bed I've put up on a couch in my study, but not the beds that are scattered around the house on the floor?

[@gladyssanchez6171]

I see your channel twice a day. I start training my puppy and husky like this. They enjoy it.

[@DogsThat]

That is awesome, Gladys! Thanks for sharing 💕

[@tricialebanno4437]

I am so excited to try this when I get home with my 2 Dobie boys who really don't know these cues well. I'm hoping it will work for us. Thank you, Susan!

[@mindyadams9041]

Thank you Susan! Your videos are brilliant and add so much value to the relationship of humans and their best friends ❤

[@DogsThat]

Thank you, Mindy! We love to know our videos are helping others 💕

[@Moosh._.23]

Just incredible 🎉

[@DogsThat]

Thank you! 💖

[@lv2blde]

I watched this a few times then tried it with my dog. He did great except for duration. What do you do when they choose to go after the treat instead of remaining in the bed? He tends to catch the treats as soon as I toss for him to search. It was great watching him figure out that all of him had to be in the bed to get the reward not just half of him. Your videos are so very helpful. You are the best!🤗

[@anjanowackadeklopp761]

I love it!

[@DogsThat]

Thank you, Anja! ❤

[@darnold5575]

I do love this. My girl been sick. Hoping to get started back soon. Hopefully. I have feared loss, better today.

[@janicehughes1318]

That was great teaching, simple but effective.

[@DogsThat]

Glad you think so, Janice, thank you!

[@dianaosman7585]

Thank you for an inspiring easy to follow video.

[@watchmoivies123]

Love it. Is her temperament a little shy all around ? Or just for this new behavior you’re teaching her. I’m going to try it with my dog I’m sure he’s going to freak out when I move something around but I’ll go slow

[@ingies2011]

Love it, now all I need is a bed with wet grass, my dog hates going down on the wet grass at training, goes down fine at home on the carpet, but not outside 😢

[@leanekelly6423]

I’m learning show much from You Susan. Your explanations are brilliant for the way I learn. I need to know why to do something and your teachings does that. So thanks so much ❤

[@krisroberts2816]

What is the difference when you say “search” or “break” ? Thanks

[@Momos-happy-walkers]

What a great IsYerChoice showcase! Thanks

[@buglegirl1]

AWESOME AS ALWAYS!

[@DogsThat]

Thank you, Nancy!

[@deannalee1759]

How do you get the dog to start this exercise in the first place? I’m new to this, so it’s kind of confusing. Where do you start from the beginning?

[@jessicacallaghan8175]

Love this... my current dogs are 8 and I'm struggling to 'reframe/retrain' them... I did not know to train a release cue. And if I have treats out they jump all over each other throwing any and all tricks they know. This is a great video thanks.

[@SandyKralovec]

I am a bit confused. In your video on ten ways to teach sit, you use the dog bed and the dog is supposed sit when they get on the bed, and here, the dog is supposed to down when they get on the bed. How do they know which game they are playing? I have been having a bit of trouble teaching a sit as my dog has learned I reward a down (or settle) when he gets on his bed or hot spot - especially during times I would like him to chill and let me do something. Back to the sit, I can not get him to stay in a sit as he thinks while I am waiting (teaching some sit duration) , he should choose a down to get the reinforcement.... Any thoughts on how I separate these two?

[@bustamante-music]

hi susan... before i listened to your podcast on getting the dog to lay down i conditioned the down and must've rewarded my puppy for sliding his legs out to one side on the down command. he's a very sensitive dog to novel things and if i try to reach out and correct his legs, he's already stood up and frantically like "what are you trying to do dad?" so i can't correct him by moving him to the desired position. how would you shape him to do the correct down now? or now that i type this i'm thinking i need to go back to the fundamentals and just try to teach it over again. interested to hear how you would go about this. thanks as always, brandon

[@onthespotwithtaalibah983]

Thank you for the educational video. Can this be done with shelter dogs?

[@DogsThat]

Hi @onthespotwithtaalibah983, we have many people in our community who use the games with shelter dogs 🧡

[@outdoorsincornwall2060]

This is brilliant, thank you! So clear. Do you have a video on how to teach a dog to stand slowly from a sit/down? I know you've got one where they pop up, but I was hoping for something slower to give my pooch a bit of a muscle workout. Thanks again

[@Nicole-wr3hf]

Hi. Which video does Susan teach “stand”?

[@tricialebanno4437]

Question - what beds are best to use with dogs who tend to destroy them? My oldest dog is 6 and she will not leave a bed alone, even if it belongs to another dog in the house. What do you recommend in this situation?

[@alexandraczeschlick9738]

Can I train a foldback down (precision) in a calmer setting and will it translate to this game (speed and drive)? My Boxer rarely offers the down this way on his own.

[@tonyaall73]

I have to push the German shepherd down. He keeps popping back up how do you stop that

[@alanwhitehead9756]

Hi Susan, Not related to this video. I have two rescued German wirehaired pointer's. A bonded pair dog and bitch ( 20 months old ). Their history is of breeding and most time caged. Biggest issue being his lack of recall. Should I start from scratch with your ruff love regime or just concentrate on the poor recall. Thanks Alan.

[@RaptorsGirl]

For sure Alan you want to focus on creating a relationship with each pup separately, make life around your reinforcing and fun. Teach them the joy of coming to you and working with you.

[@alanwhitehead9756]

@@RaptorsGirl Thanks Susan.

[@michellesantee8407]

My dog has learned down from a hand signal and is much less responsive to the verbal cue. How to transition to the verbal only? Also how to speed up the response my dogs is super slow and cautious.

[@qwertykotchka394]

I noticed that when Susan transitioned to the bed inner This would come and lie diagonally with her front paws on it but the rest of her body on the floor. My dog does exactly the same unless I position him with a hand target. Any thoughts about why a dog would do that?

[@keniajacobo3526]

Were you able to troubleshoot this?

[@alidaruiz9258]

How foes this system affect the close, straight front in IGP?

[@DogsThat]

Hi @Alida Ruiz, you can train any behavior you need close and straight for IGP. We have two further excellent videos on training sit and training down to help. Sit - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGce4WdgLFlhc0 Down - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2qsiX6rmtx9eqc

[@catherineluu2230]

I’ve previously taught my dog the cue “down” with a hand signal/luring (since that’s all the internet has to show!) instead of with shaping/targeting as you show here. I want to reteach it with your method; would you suggest attaching a new verbal cue?

[@DogsThat]

Hi @Catherine Luu a new cue is a great idea.

[@lyndakempland4559]

Beautiful. I have a 3 yr old that is food aggressive around other animals and attacks my cats. I've had dogs all my life, even a couple rotties and never experienced this

[@DogsThat]

Hi Lynda, thanks so much. For your 3 yr old, we have a video all about resource guarding with key insights to help - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2LFnJSXjZx_jrs There's also a video for dogs who chase - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGrLiX6CeLBjeck Our playlist for reactivity and aggression is also an excellent resource - kzbin.info/aero/PLphRRSxcMHy0Tbd6ZybIXgJk3mtpBLLk7

[@anitagabriel8885]

When do you add the word "down" if they don't know it like your dog?

[@DogsThat]

Hi Anita, thank you for asking this, here's a blog post on adding cues to behaviors: susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/09/when-do-i-add-a-cue/