Teaching your dog to lay down on cue is a great life skill for many situations. There are 10 different ways to train your dog to drop. Having a dog who downs immediately when you ask will happen if your dog is engaged and having fun. Your dog obeying you does not need to involve submitting, and we’re looking at how you can create a joyful instant drop on cue for your dog.

00:00 Fast ways to shape your dog to down with Susan Garrett.
00:19 Why teaching down is so important.
01:32 “Obeying” shouldn’t mean submitting.
03:04 Why I don’t use luring to shape a down.
04:10 Capturing a down.
04:25 Freeshaping a down.
05:20 Shaping to go under your knees with a target stick.
05:58 Shaping to drop with a target stick.
06:38 Why paw and body targets are ideal ways to shape a down.
07:29 Prerequisites for teaching down with targets.
08:26 Three release words to signal the end of behavior.
10:39 Considerations for cueing a down.
11:59 The three positions of down.
12:56 Always have D.A.S.H. in mind before training.
13:50 Shaping with a tug toy.
16:10 Using a bed and couch cushions to teach puppies.
18:30 Use front paw targeting for faster downs.
20:35 When to add your “down” cue.

In the episode you'll hear:
• That being told to train a dog to down using physical force is a red flag.
• About the most common way of teaching a down with luring.
• How you could capture a down in daily life, use free shaping, or a target stick.
• How I train dogs to down using paw or body targets to get a fast, reliable drop.
• The prerequisites you will need before training your dog to down.
• Why you will need a release word to tell your dog when the down is over.
• That I use "search", "break", or "get it" as release words and what each means.
• The reason to think very carefully about the cue you will use for your dog to down.
• How I train down in three different positions and why I start with the sphinx position.
• How I train my dogs to down on cue with DASH and fun shaping games.
• That we can teach our dogs to LOVE the game of giving us fast, reliable downs on cue.

ItsYerChoice Game:
Learn how to play ItsYerChoice as a foundation for your down training:
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Resources:
1. YouTube Video: Target Stick Training Part One    • Susan Garrett's Target Stick Training...  
2. YouTube Video: Target Stick Training Part Two    • Susan Garrett's Target Stick Training...  
3. Podcast Episode 134: How To Teach A Dog Stay WITHOUT Luring, Collar Pops Or Using The Word “Stay”    • How To Teach A Dog To Stay WITHOUT Lu...  
4. Get Crate Games Online https://dogsthat.com'>https://dogsthat.com/y/crategames'>https://dogsthat.com'>https://dogsthat.com/y/crategames
5. Podcast Episode 33: How Do I Stop My Dog Counter Surfing?!    • How Do I Stop My Dog Counter Surfing?...  
6. Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home!    • Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail ...  
7. Blog Post: Got D.A.S.H. (Desire, Accuracy, Speed and Habitat)? https://susangarrettdogagility.com/20...
8. YouTube Video: Perch Work (Pivots and Spins)    • Susan Garrett’s Perch Work Dog Tricks...  
9. Blog Post: Dog Training Question ~ When Do I Add a Cue? https://susangarrettdogagility.com/20...
10. YouTube Playlist: Sit, Down, Stand, Stay! Dog training duration behaviors with Susan Garrett    • Sit, Down, Stand, Stay! Dog Training ...  
*11. Cato Board: Receive 10% off with the use of this link. Coupon Code: DOGSTHAT10 https://catooutdoors.com/discount/DOG...

*Link Disclosure: Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!

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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.



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