Francis Bacon once said, “Nature to be commanded, must be obeyed.” When it comes to training a dog, this saying is very wise indeed. Dogs, as a species, are accustomed to a hierarchy structure of command and leadership. That’s the way they naturally function and would continue to function if we had not domesticated them to be pets. So they are accustomed to a structure where everyone-or every dog-has his place in the pack-from the alpha leader to the bottom or omega dog. When you teach your dog the “down” technique, you are asserting your place as the alpha in the dog’s world.

When a dog has learned the down technique and rests in this position, you won’t have to worry about children getting bowled over or furniture getting jostled about. It also forms the building blocks for additional commands you may want to teach your dog-such as “sit,” “stay,” “roll over,” or even tricks.

You should use a straightforward approach to training a dog to obey the down command. First, watch for the dog’s natural transition into a down position. When a dog relaxes, he will naturally go from sitting to lying in the down position. You want to watch for that point when the dog is sitting and then starts to go into that position by himself.

When you see this take place you should deliver a clear-cut and exclusive vocal command and hand signal combination. Each and every behavior pattern should always be connected with an exclusive hand sign that is not used ordinarily throughout the day. It is also essential to use a clear, fixed word and tone.

After you make the command and gesture combination, and as soon as the desired behavior occurs, give the dog lots of praise. Initially, the dog won’t really understand why he’s getting praised. But this is actually irrelevant. As you repeat this consistently, the dog will learn to associate the praise with his action following your command. And this desired behavior will be the link to that praise.

Initially, the dog will not likely perform as desired because he does not know what you want. It is important to be patient, clear, specific, and consistent. It also helps to do this when other people are not nearby and you have alone time with your pet and when there are few other distractions like noise and movement to divert the dog’s attention.

Always stimulate positive behavior through taking a treat or popular toy and placing the dog in a sitting position at the same time placing the toy on the floor right near the front of the dog’s nose.

After you’ve done this a few times, try using a hand movement where you hold your hand palm down and “wave” it down. Be careful to provide the praise or treat reinforcement only after the behavior you desire has been completed correctly. The reward is for the correct behavior. If the dog doesn’t understand initially, though, don’t get angry or frustrated.

For a slow on the uptake or assertive dog, it becomes important to complement training by using a collar and leash in your strategy. Always use a short nylon or leather lead that is, most favorably, about two to four feet. Put your dog in a sitting position and kneel down facing him.

Now make the command and unique hand gesture you will use for this command while also moving the toy or treat from a spot near the chin of the dog down to the ground. At the same time, calmly and slowly pull down on the leash to nudge the dog into the downward position you desire. Do not jerk on the leash or punish the dog or give any negative feedback. Again, follow up with praise when the dog completes the desired behavior.

In those rare cases where your dog seems to have difficulty learning, try this. Face the dog at a bit of an angle and, while you are kneeling down, slip the loop of the leash under one or your feet and also slide the loop under the knee of the dog’s opposite leg. Now try issuing the command again, only this time, gently pull the leash loop with your foot and pull both of the dog’s front legs toward you gently, so he slides down into the down position.

Once the dog is in the right position, you should praise the dog lavishly even though you were the one who set in motion the movement and not the dog. The idea is to get the dog to couple such a position with good feelings: both his feelings and yours.