One of the more important dog training tips is how to teach your dog to lay down. In the wild, a dog would lie down to prepare for the winter months. It was also used to avoid danger from potential predators. Nowadays, most owners use this as a way to help dog training be easier and less frustrating for both dog and owner.
You will want to begin by lying down on the floor or flooring with your dog’s body facing down. You can start off by holding your dog’s body as still as possible. Start off with only your dog’s head and shoulders touching the floor. You will be able to see how your dog’s body is now laying down because you will be able to move it around more easily.
Once you have watched your dog closely enough, you should move his head until his eyes are focused on you and then move his legs until they are at a comfortable position. You should not try to pull your dog’s body up, but instead, simply guide your dog’s body down on your hands. This will confuse your dog and make him think that he is just supposed to lay down instead of up.
If you have other dogs in the house, all of them should get involved. Have one of the dogs put his legs on your dog’s legs while the rest of the dogs lay their legs on top of yours. For your dog to recognize what you are doing, have him follow your lead. As soon as your dog understands that he can lie down and stay there, then you can begin to teach him how to teach your dog to lay down.
It is important to point out that with this method of teaching, it is important to start off slowly. Do not try to pull your dog into lying down right away. You should begin to see how your dog reacts before you fully proceed. This is important when you are trying to teach your dog how to lay down because if your dog panics, you will only end up hurting him.
Before starting, you should take your dog outside on a leash. If he approaches too quickly, then he may run into problems because he could possibly chase the other dog and injure him. During this time, you should use the same method you would if you were teaching your dog how to sit down. When your dog is comfortable lying down on your carpet, you should begin to take him directly outside to the grass or the sidewalk. Here, he will be able to see what is going on around him and will likely be less likely to run into problems.
You should hold the dog by his collar and begin by kneeling down next to the dog’s back. You will then put your arm around the dog’s body and place your dog’s legs down into the grass. Your dog will naturally begin to lie down as you are helping him to sit down. Keep in mind that you should keep your hands at least six inches away from your dog’s legs at all times. This is so the dog will know where you are and will be less likely to run off.
If your dog does not lie down on your carpet correctly the first time, do not make an attempt to force him. Instead, continue to kneel beside him on the lawn until he learns what you are asking him to do. You may need to be a bit stern with him when he starts to lie down, but do not pull him in any direction as this will confuse the training process. In the end it is all up to you how you teach your dog how to lay down on your carpet, just remember that the process will take time and persistence on your part.