Dog Health Questions: Dog training problems with my 4 year old dachshund?

I have a four year old female dachshund named sassy, and well the name really does fit. In her four years I have only managed to teach her a handful of tricks like: Sit pretty, sit, get back, stay, come, jump, and get off. These are just some basics that I need. But I realized that she doesn't know how to lie down. I just spent some time trying to teach her but I can't find a successful method. She is so stubborn and refuses to listen. I tried to teach her by dragging a treat along the ground while she's hungry, but her nose is already on the ground so it doesn't work. I also tried to pull her legs down onto the ground, but she thinks "Oh cool, I get a treat because you drag my legs" and wont ever do it by herself. Ive tried just doing the hand signal and saying "Down" whenever she lies down on accident, but when I point to the ground she thinks I have thrown the treat on the ground and hops up to go find it.

Can you help me find a successful method to train her to lie down?

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Recommended Answer:
"Down" is such an easy behavior to capture. Every dog lies down, at some point.

Relax and do this at some time when you are just hanging around with your dog. Use a clicker or other marker noise.

The split second the elbows touch the ground, click/treat. Deliver the treat so she has to get up to get it.

Completely ignore her staring, coming up to you, or anything else she does to get your attention. When she gets bored with you, and lies down again, click/treat as the elbows touch the ground.

Repeat until she is offering the behavior, clearly lying down in expectation of you seeing it and giving her a treat. At that point, say whatever your cue is going to be, as the elbows touch ground. Stop using the clicker, but still reward.

Gradually back up the timing of when you say the cue (but play it safe and make sure she is definitely on the way to lying down for quite a few reps!), until it becomes the cue and not a reaction.

As with any behavior, practice in lots of places and situations, with you in various positions, so she understands that your cue means to take that position, in any situation.

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• You really shoulnt worry if she doesnt know lie down, because mine wont learn any tricks at all, youre lucky yours know some things.


• This is not always an easy command to teach, as it does force a dog into a submissive position, and a dog that does not trust you will be less likely to want to obey.
  However, it seems that you have quite a good relationship with your dog- so it should be possible,
  Remember that Dachshunds have very long backs, so you shouldnt teach her tricks that are going to put pressure on her back- or if you do- she shouldnt do it often or for long periods of time.
  The first thing I do to get a dog to 'drop' is to put it in the sitting position.
  From here, I usually give the command to 'drop' and bring the treat down to between the dog's feet, as the dog goes down to inspect it, I pull the treat further away to encourage the dog to lie down.
  It is not going to be easy with a dog that is so close to the ground already- but I hope that you can get there!
  Perserverence is the key!


• I agree with L. You should be happy she listens at all. My dachshund is so stubborn and does what he wants, when he wants. I have tried training him, but he is just too stubborn. Typical dachshund.
  
  But please, be careful pulling on her legs and making her lie down. I wouldn't want her to get hurt just learning a trick.


• When she's in a sit, put the treat on the ground, with your hand in a fist around it or flat out over it (whichever signal you'd rather use), about in between where her legs would be. She'll try and get it out of your hand, paw you, bark, probably get very irritated at herself. Then she'll suddenly either get it, or get confused and lie down. Praise her and treat her. Do this for two sessions then add in the command 'down' and keep the hand signal. Eventually she'll connect both the signal and the command to lieing down, and she'll do it without both the verbal and physical command.


• There are also teaching methods and tutorials that you might want to use in training your dog. I search some of this teaching system but this on is the most reliable system that I found and it really works Ive managed to train my dog not to throw his waste anywhere.
  
  You might want to check it out and see if it also works for you.
  
  Secrets of Dog Training
  http://rurl.org/1s9n