Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Tips for "Down"?

I taught my dogs to sit. They're good at that, but now I've been trying to teach them "down". The way I made them go down is I say "down" and then put the treat on the floor, and then they dive for it. There, they went down! But, if I just hold the treat in front of them and say "down" they don't go down. How do I make them lie down?

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Recommended Answer:
Keep it up! Perseverance is the key. Also, do they know 'leave' or 'wait' yet? If they do, get them to go 'down by holding the treat on the floor, but then use 'wait' or 'leave' before giving the treat. That way - hopefully - they will learn what down means.
Good luck.

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• If luring doesn't work you could try capturing it.
  
  Go to a quiet room (bathroom works for us). Wait until your dog lays down, mark (click, if you click train) then reward. Toss the treat, so the dog must get up and go get it.
  
  Repeat. Once the dog is dropping to get the treat, add the cue right in front of the behavior. Click then treat.
  
  With a little practice (increasing distraction, distance, and duration but not all at once) you will have a really nice down/drop.


• This worked on my beagle but not my pitbull so good luck if yoy try it...
  
  Put the dogs leash on, then while moving the hand with the treat towards the floor (they should follow the treat) pull the leash down as well while saying the command. once they are lying down, reward.


• make your dog sit 1st. Show them the treat & say down and slowly bring the treat to the ground still holding it. Once they are in the down position that you want praise & give the treat. practice for a while and pretty soon it will work without even showing them the treat.


• Put one dog at a time in a Sit then put a treat by his nose then slowly bring the treat down to his paws and bring it in to you. Slowly! This will lure him into a down position.
  
  Practice makes perfect : )