Teaching Down

Once your puppy knows how to sit, down is a very simple command to teach. When they are in a sitting position, with your left hand, gently hold the puppy's rear end in place so it doesn't move forward, and with your right hand, lure the puppy into a down position by pulling the treat down and forward so the puppy has to reach in order to get the treat. Practice this over and over, saying the word "down" as the puppy makes the down motion. Once the puppy has down figured out, then add in going from a down to a sit and vice versa, until the puppy can do this freely on their own without you touching them. Eventually wean them off being lured into position by using your hands to give hand signals instead of rewarding them with treats. The hand signals that I use are index finger points at ground means to down. Palm up lifts up to sky, means to sit.