Introduction to the Down Cue
The “Down” cue is a simple yet powerful behavior where your dog lies down and stays in that position until told otherwise. It’s a fundamental skill that helps with managing your dog’s energy and creating a calmer, more controlled environment.
Mastering the “Down” cue opens the door to more advanced training and can make everyday activities with your dog easier. Whether it’s keeping them calm during mealtime, in the car, or when visitors arrive, this cue lays the foundation for a well-behaved, balanced pet. Plus, once your dog is comfortable with “Down,” it can be a stepping stone to other cues like “Stay” or even agility training.
Real-Life Example: A Useful Skill in Action
Our chief behaviorist’s Australian Shepherd, Storm, is a great example of how the “Down” cue can be both a useful self-control activity and a fitness booster. Storm is a medium-sized dog with a lot of energy, so keeping him fit is a priority. We’ve been doing a “sit-down-sit” activity with him, which is similar to dog push-ups. This not only helps with his self-control but also gives him a full-body workout—especially important for larger dogs like him who need to stay fit.
By practicing the “Down” cue in this way, we’re able to reinforce his obedience while giving him the physical exercise he needs to stay healthy. It’s a win-win: Storm stays calm and controlled, and he gets a solid workout at the same time!
How to train your dog to Down
If you’re short on time or prefer to leave the training to the experts, you can always send your dog over to the Animal Training Centre for dog training. Our professional trainers are here to help your pet master the “Down” cue and more, ensuring they develop good habits in a supportive environment.
But if you’re a DIY kind of person, we’ve got you covered too! Check out our guide on obedience training for dogs, where you’ll find step-by-step instructions to help you train your dog at home, on your own schedule. Whether you’re looking for professional help or prefer to take the reins, we’ve got the resources to support your training journey. Read on for further details!
Step 1: Wait for the “Down” Behavior and Reward It Timely
To start teaching the “Down” cue, use operant conditioning by waiting for your dog to lie down naturally. As soon as they drop into the “Down” position, use a clicker (if you’re using one) to mark the behavior—this should happen simultaneously with the “Down.” The click signals to your dog that they’ve done the right thing. After the click, immediately reward them with a treat and praise.
This sequence helps your dog connect the behavior with the positive outcome, reinforcing it and encouraging them to repeat the “Down” in the future. Just remember, the reward should come after the click, ensuring your dog understands exactly what they’ve been praised for.
Step 2: Shape the Behaviour
If your dog isn’t offering the “Down” naturally, don’t worry! You can shape the behavior using luring. Start by holding a treat in front of your dog’s nose and slowly moving it towards the ground. As their nose follows the treat, they’ll likely lower their body into the “Down” position. Reward them the moment their body touches the ground!
It might actually be a little easier if your dog is already in a sit position—this worked really well for Storm, our Chief Behaviorist Qiai’s Australian Shepherd. By starting from the sit, it felt more natural for him to flow into the “Down.” So, if your dog is sitting, try luring them from there—it can make the process smoother and more intuitive!
If your dog doesn’t know the sit cue yet, that’s okay! In fact, we’d recommend teaching your dog the sit first. It’s generally easier than the “Down” and will set you up for success as you move on to the next steps in training. Once your dog has mastered sit, the “Down” will feel like a natural next step!
Want to try teaching the sit, checkout our guide on shaping and reinforcing the sit here!
Step 3: Add a Cue
Once your dog is reliably lying down when lured, it’s time to introduce a verbal or visual cue. You’ll want to say “Down” (or whatever word you choose) just before your dog lies down, right as they’re about to move into the position. By now, you should be able to recognize when your dog is about to drop into the “Down” position, so you can time the cue perfectly.
The goal here is that, when you say the cue, your dog will be motivated to lie down right away. As soon as they do, you’ll click at the exact moment their body hits the ground—this is crucial! The click should happen at the same time as the behavior, not after. Once you’ve clicked, follow up with a treat and praise. This helps your dog make a clear connection between the cue, the behavior, and the reward. Over time, they’ll start to respond to the cue by lying down instantly, knowing that the reward will follow.
Step 4: Remove the Lure
When you first introduce the cue, you might still be using the treat to guide your dog into the “Down” position. At this point, the treat acts as a lure to help your dog understand what you want them to do. But once the behavior is consistent, and your dog is reliably responding to the cue, it’s time to slowly phase out the lure.
As a natural progression, you can start replacing the treat in your hand with a hand motion. This motion acts as a prompt, guiding your dog to lie down, much like the treat did before. However, it’s still a form of a lure. The goal is to use the hand motion less and less until your dog starts responding to the cue on its own. Eventually, you’ll want to remove the hand motion entirely so that your dog is only responding to the verbal cue, making the behavior even more reliable and independent.
This gradual removal of the hand signal helps shift your dog’s focus from the physical prompt to the cue itself. Over time, your dog will learn to perform the “Down” without needing the motion or treat, relying solely on the verbal cue. This process ensures that your dog becomes less dependent on external prompts, and the behavior becomes more automatic.
Step 5: Be Generous and Strict with the Reward
Consistency is key in dog training. In the beginning, it’s important to reward your dog every time they perform the “Down” correctly. This frequent reinforcement helps solidify the connection between the cue and the behavior, making it clear to your dog what you expect. If you notice your dog’s response becoming inconsistent, that’s a sign to go back to rewarding more often until the behavior becomes more reliable.
Timing of the Reward is Key
The timing of your reward is crucial. Make sure the treat is delivered immediately after your dog lies down—right when they are in the “Down” position. This helps your dog make the direct connection between the behavior and the reward. The key is that the reward should never come before the behavior—it must always follow the action. This timing is what helps reinforce the behavior and ensures your dog understands exactly what they’re being rewarded for.
Shifting to Intermittent Reinforcement
Once your dog is consistently performing the “Down” on cue, you can start to reduce the frequency of treats, transitioning to what’s known as intermittent reinforcement. This means you won’t reward every single time, but instead offer treats on a random or variable schedule. This approach is proven to make behaviors more persistent, as the unpredictability of rewards keeps your dog engaged and motivated. While intermittent reinforcement is a powerful tool, it’s important to be strategic about it. Start by rewarding intermittently, but keep the reinforcement rate random enough to maintain your dog’s interest and reinforce the behavior long-term.
Step 6: Review and Iterate
Regularly reviewing your dog’s progress is an essential part of the training process. If you notice that the “Down” behavior is becoming inconsistent, or your dog is struggling with certain steps, take a moment to reassess. It’s important to make adjustments to your training methods as needed and ensure you’re maintaining consistency. Sometimes, behaviors might not be as smooth as expected, and it’s crucial to understand why and adapt your approach.
This process of reviewing and iterating ensures that you are reinforcing the correct actions and making sure your dog is not being pushed too hard. For instance, our Chief Behaviourist’s dog, Storm, had some challenges with the “Down” behavior until he was about seven months old. For a while, he couldn’t consistently express the behavior, which was frustrating at times. However, after some careful observation and review, we realized that Storm was likely dealing with growing pains, which may have been affecting his comfort when transitioning from sit to down and back to sit.
This experience with Storm taught us the importance of monitoring our dogs closely and adjusting training expectations. If your dog seems unable to perform a behavior consistently, it’s essential not to force them. Sometimes there could be underlying issues like discomfort, growth stages, or even health concerns that can affect their ability to respond. Always be patient and adjust accordingly—forcing your dog into positions or pushing them too hard could lead to stress or injury. By regularly checking in on your dog’s progress, you can ensure a smoother, more positive training experience and avoid pushing them beyond their limits.
Step 7: Wean Off the Treats
As your dog becomes more reliable in responding to the “Down” cue, it’s time to start reducing the frequency of treats. This is where the concept of intermittent reinforcement comes into play. Instead of rewarding every time your dog performs the behavior, you’ll begin to give treats on a random or unpredictable basis. This technique is powerful because it keeps your dog engaged and motivated, even if they don’t always know when a treat is coming. In essence, your dog will become “addicted” to the behavior, just like a gambling addict chasing the thrill of hitting the jackpot.
Imagine a gambler who is trying to win the big prize. Sometimes they hit the jackpot, sometimes they don’t, but they keep playing because they’re hoping for that next big win. Similarly, when you use intermittent reinforcement, your dog will keep performing the “Down” behavior, eagerly anticipating a reward, even though it’s not guaranteed every time. This unpredictable pattern makes the behavior stick longer, as your dog learns to associate the action with the possibility of a reward, even if it’s not immediate.
To implement intermittent reinforcement effectively, mix up the type of rewards you give. Sometimes offer a verbal reward like “Good boy!” or a gentle pet, which reinforces the bond between you and your dog. Other times, give a treat, but make sure to vary the treat’s value. Occasionally, you might offer a high-value treat like cheese or chicken—something your dog absolutely loves—while other times, a standard treat will suffice. This unpredictability not only keeps your dog interested but also makes the behavior more ingrained. The goal is for your dog to become so motivated to perform the “Down” behavior that they eagerly anticipate your cue, knowing that the reward could be something special or different each time.
By gradually weaning off the treats and incorporating a mix of reinforcement strategies, you’ll ensure your dog remains consistently motivated while strengthening the “Down” behavior in the long run.
Step 8: Increase the Difficulty
Once your dog is reliably responding to the “Down” cue, it’s time to step up the challenge to ensure they can perform the behavior in any situation. Start by practicing in different environments. Begin in a quiet, familiar space like your home or backyard where there are fewer distractions. As your dog becomes more confident, gradually move to busier locations like a park or around other people. This will help them learn to focus and perform the behavior, no matter where they are.
Next, begin adding distractions. Start with mild ones, such as a toy placed nearby, and work up to more challenging distractions like other pets, people walking by, or noise. This teaches your dog to maintain focus on the cue, even when things around them are moving or changing.
Another way to increase the difficulty is by increasing the distance between you and your dog when giving the cue. Start by stepping back just a few paces, and slowly increase the distance as your dog becomes more reliable. This progression will help reinforce their obedience, even when you’re further away.
Once your dog has mastered the basic “Down,” you can introduce more advanced variations to keep their training interesting and beneficial. One example is the fold-back, a canine fitness exercise. This move requires your dog to lie down and then fold their back legs under themselves, which not only strengthens their body but also challenges their obedience.
You can also try adding a stay to the “Down,” where your dog remains in position until you give them a release cue. Or, for more advanced work, try having them perform the “Down” while you move around them, teaching them to stay put no matter what. These variations will keep your dog engaged while reinforcing their skills, ensuring they respond reliably no matter the situation.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Distractions
One of the most common challenges when teaching the “Down” cue is distractions. Dogs, especially in the beginning stages, can get easily sidetracked by their surroundings. To help your dog stay focused, start by training in a quiet, familiar space, free from distractions. Once they’re reliably responding to the cue, gradually introduce distractions, such as a toy or a person moving nearby. Over time, your dog will learn to stay focused on you, even in busier environments.
Lack of Interest or Fatigue
If your dog seems uninterested or tired during training, it might be time to reassess the situation. Training should be fun and engaging, so try using higher-value treats or their favorite toy to keep them motivated. Sometimes, dogs may also get fatigued during a session, especially if they’re still learning the behavior. Make sure to take plenty of breaks to keep training positive and prevent your dog from getting overwhelmed or frustrated.
Inconsistent Response
It’s normal for your dog to give an inconsistent response as they are learning the “Down” cue. If this happens, go back to earlier steps and reward your dog more frequently when they respond correctly. This helps reinforce the behavior and gives them more positive reinforcement to rely on. Consistency in your own actions and rewards will also encourage your dog to be more consistent in their responses.
Growing Pains (Storm’s Experience)
Our Chief Behaviourist’s dog, Storm, faced a unique challenge when learning the “Down” cue—growing pains. Storm, an active and energetic Australian Shepherd, had difficulty transitioning from sit to down until he was about 7 months old. We believe that growing pains affected his comfort during these movements. It’s a good reminder that physical discomfort or health issues might be at play, so always be mindful of your dog’s physical well-being when they seem to struggle with a behavior. If your dog is showing signs of discomfort, it’s essential to monitor their progress closely and not force them into positions that might cause them pain. Sometimes, adjusting the pace of training or consulting with a vet can help address underlying issues.
