Tuesday Training Byte: Force-free sit and down

Training methods have progressed over the years. The "old school" way of training the sit command was to pull up on the leash while pushing down on the pup's butt. Training the down might have included grabbing hold of the front legs and pulling them out from under the dog, or putting the leash under your foot while pulling on the other end, forcing your dog's head to go down, then push down on his back. Needless to say, I do not use these methods. Except in a very submissive dog, most dogs resist pressure. In other words, if I push on a dog's shoulders to get him in the down position, he will likely lock his elbows and brace against the pressure. I want a willing partner in my dog, and using resistance-free or force free methods helps build the bond and make an eager worker.

Dogs understand body language better than words. When my dog comes to me, I take my open palm with fingers pointing toward my dog and bring my hand to my waist folding my palm across my belly button. This signals the dog to ease in close. He will often sit once he is in that position. To make sure my dog sits, I take an open palm and reach above his head and arching toward his rear. As his head goes up and back, his hind end goes into a sit. Be sure to immediately mark the correct behavior with a "Yes!" and a treat. Repeat a couple of times and then as you arch your palm above his head, say the command, "Sit". A few tries and your dog should get the idea.

Teaching the down command may be done two different ways. If the dog already knows sit, he is half way there and may be easier. More difficult way of teaching the down is to collapse down from a standing position. Start with your dog in a sit position. Tuck a small but tasty treat under your thumb in an open palm. Hold it directly in front of your dog's nose and then go straight down by his front toes and then out in front of him. Your dog will likely follow the treat with his nose and in order for him to reach it, he will have to put his front legs out and go into a down position. If he walks out his front feet and the butt raises up, touch his butt lightly to remind him to keep it down. Release the treat immediately as you say "Yes!" , Good down. Some of the energetic herding breeds will often just hop right into the down position, eager to get their treat. When training be sure to have soft tasty treats on you so there is not a delay in the reward. Using a marker word like yes with an immediate treat helps the dog make the connection between his action and your command and/or hand signal. Happy training!