How to teach the dog team "Lie down"?

Raising a dog is important. Attentive owner should approach this issue with the utmost responsibility. The “Lie down” team is considered one of the base ones, and most of the breeds learn it rather quickly. The right approach to the pet will provide the desired result.

Quite a difficult skill for a young and active pet. In essence, the “Lie down” command means that the dog must stop any movement and calm down. Learning plays a key role in dog development. The real benefits of the skill can be determined by such situations:

• a pet that is accustomed to a long lying at the command of the owner, behaves excellently in public transport;
• in any emergency or emergency situation, the life and health of the dog, the owners may depend on the precise execution of commands;
• male easier to calm down in the presence of a bitch with estrus, if able to execute the command;
• The performance at an exhibition or competition includes a demonstration of teams, and if you plan to receive awards, then obedience is key.

Then command "Lie" will help calm the animal during a fight or hunt. In any situation where the dog must cease activity, this skill is appropriate. The dog must carry out the command in all life situations, even while playing and eating.

Education is especially effective in early childhood. Basic training should be done as early as 2-3 months. Animals in adulthood are much less easily trained. The "Lie" team should reach the ideal by 4 months. The exact time of learning a skill depends on the characteristics of the breed and the nature of the particular dog.

Teach the dog to be consistent. It is important to accurately determine the methodology that will suit a particular pet. Teaching the team “Lie” will be easier if you follow certain rules.

• To begin, select the most peaceful place. It is better to learn the animal on the street, not at home. Choose a plot of land with no dirt.
• During training, you need to become an authority for a dog, not a tyrant. Do not use brute force, eliminate cruelty.
• Watch out for the correctness of the command, do not indulge. Otherwise, it will be almost impossible to retrain over time.
• The command voice must be pronounced before you lower the pet to the ground. Refreshment is given after performing the action.
• If the dog gets up arbitrarily, it is necessary to return it to a lying position and repeat the command.
• Do not immediately try to lay a pet for a long time. Demanding a great shutter speed at the very beginning is meaningless.
• You should not force the dog to demonstrate skill throughout the entire walk, everything should be in moderation.
• To release the animal after the execution is necessary by the command “Walk”, but not “To me”. The latter refers to the category of pleasant, which will reduce the exposure when performing the skill of lying.
• It is much easier to train a dog that already can stand or sit.
• Do not pronounce the command in combination with others. Especially in the same sequence. Otherwise, the pet will perform the necessary actions only in conjunction.

Teaching dog commands requires an individual approach. It is easier to train a puppy, however, and an adult pet is trainable.Just in the second case, it will take a little more time to achieve the desired result. For training you need a certain inventory.

1. Collar - is a kind of attribute of power and allows you to control the actions of the dog.
2. Leash - performs almost the same role as the previous item. It will be necessary not only during the training itself, but also on the way to the place and back home.
3. Delicacy - favorite food in the form of pieces of cheese or meat, crackers or dry food. It is important that the dog is hungry, otherwise the treat will not cause proper emotions.
4. Positive attitude - is of particular importance because the dog feels the condition of the owner. The pet must feel that it is understood and supported.

Depending on the age and characteristics of the dog, there are 4 basic methods to learn the “Lie down” command.

The first method is suitable for both puppies and adults. It is simple and pleasant, dogs perceive it positively. The starting position should be standing or sitting. Consider the algorithm of action.

1. Take a comfortable position near the dog, which is in a quiet position.
2. Take a treat in your hand. You can squeeze in a fist or on the palm to show your pet.
3. Lower the treat down to the ground so that the dog reaches behind it.
4. Give the command "Lie" and wait until the animal lies down.
5. Give a treat.
6. Wait about 5 seconds, and say the command "Walk". So you allow the dog to stand up. If the dog has risen without permission, then return him to the desired position by a slight compulsion, but do not encourage him with goodies.

Not all dogs are willing to dutifully execute commands. Sometimes, due to age or nature, the dog simply does not lie down after the delicacy. For the training of such pets, there is a second method that takes into account such a feature.

1. Stand next to a calm pet.
2. Show in hand a treat, let it sniff.
3. Lower the arm down and slightly pull the leash towards the ground. Additionally, you can work your hand on withers to lay the dog. Speak aloud the command "Lie".
4. As soon as the pet has laid down, give a treat.
5. Wait a bit and release the dog with the “Walk” command.

The third method of training is similar to the previous one and involves the use of a leash. Designed for animals that know the command "Lie", but perform it reluctantly. And also it is an excellent method for consolidating the skill. You need to train like this:

• the dog must stand or sit on the left leg of the owner;
• take a leash in your right hand so that it is sagging;
• with your left foot, step on a leash to pull the animal to the ground, say the command "Lie";
• Praise the dog for doing it, release it with another team after a while.

A rather interesting and fun way is to lay the dog by pulling the front paws.

Great for young dogs who want to have more contact with the owner. Do this:

• the dog must stand or sit quietly in front of the owner;
• go down to the level of the pet and pull it by the front paws, operate smoothly and carefully so as not to hurt;
• when the dog starts to descend, say the command;
• as soon as the dog takes a lying position, give a treat.

Training at the first time should be aimed at practicing the technology itself. Hold the dog in the desired position for about 5 seconds and release the command "Walk". It is important to teach the animal to ensure that it does not stand up on its own. After the skill is fixed, it is necessary to increase the time and distance. The owner must move away from the dog and hold it in the supine position for several minutes.

When the pet began to perform the command well, it is worth adding gestures to the words “Lie down” and “Walk”. In the first case, usually the owner lowers his hand down, and in the second - raises up.Over time, the animal will learn to make an action by gesture, without words. This skill is very useful and just come in handy.

Wrong approach to pet training can lead to complete disobedience and misunderstanding. In this case, mistakes are unforgivable. If the dog starts to perceive the owner with fear or connects the team with pain and discomfort, then he will never do it again. When training it is important to consider a number of nuances.

• Repeating one command harms several times. The dog must understand the call from the first time, compromises are unacceptable. The animal begins to perceive the owner frivolously, if he repeats the same thing 10 times. Moreover, in the mind of a pet, there can be an understanding that an action should be done only after a certain number of commands.
• Be sure to cancel the command. Choose a word or gesture that will signal your pet that you can get up. If the dog stops acting arbitrarily, it will bring a lot of trouble with time. Discipline should be maximized.
• Excessive rewards hurt learning. Only the correct execution of the command should entail a delicacy. During training, deprive the dog of his privileges in order to achieve maximum obedience.
• Rudeness and cruelty is a key mistake of inexperienced hosts. If the dog does not understand you or does not want to carry out the command, then do not be angry, perhaps your pet needs a special approach.
• It is necessary to monitor the condition of the dog. If the pet is tired, it is better to finish the workout. Otherwise, coercion can cause a negative reaction.

To learn how to teach the dog the command "Lie", see the next video.