I am having difficulty with this one. I've watched a few clicker videos with people training their puppies into a down position by getting them into a sit, then holding a treat from their nose and moving it downwards. Willow just puts her head down, though, and if I try it closer to her body, her bum pops up. Is it too early to be trying this, or does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
Re: How to shape "down"? We taught Odin the down command by simply waiting for him lay down on his own and then give the down command and reward him. He connected the "down" quite fast to lying down that way
Re: How to shape "down"? I read about that, but Willow never goes into the down by herself! The best she does is collapse on her side when she's having a rest, but it's no "down"
Re: How to shape "down"? Training session I was at mentioned to go from stand to down by dragging the treat down and putting it between their front legs (but slightly behind their legs), Kenzi started this by keeping her butt in the air but if you left it there she eventually went into the down.
Re: How to shape "down"? The way I've always taught down is start in a sit, lower the treat straight down from the nose to the ground like you have been so the head goes down then slowly move it along the ground away from the body.
Re: How to shape "down"? OK, I cracked it! I used a small piece of cheese (mmm, cheese) which is a medium-value treat. Doesn't get her as worked up as chicken, but she'll work a bit harder for it than kibble. I had her in a sit and lowered the cheese with a tiny bit sticking out so she could lick it. I then held it there, with her licking and nibbling the very end, until she went down. It took a while and she popped up a couple of times, but I just put her back in a sit and started again. We did about ten repetitions, and by the end she was getting the idea. She still wouldn't do it without a lure, but I'm glad we've got the position at least!
Re: How to shape "down"? Great! Gypsy still needs a lure occasionally - the 'down' is the hardest imo. We also have to teach 'upsit' from the down - but I'm finding that hard. She can do it but then thinks every 'down' needs to be followed by an 'upsit'!
Re: How to shape "down"? I'm finding "stand" really challenging as well. She jumps up and prances around like a loon, not like all the well-behaved, demure pups I see in all the videos who just - well - stand!
