The down command...

[abker17]

Abby knows the command, the trouble is she does it sooo slowly and I have to tell her like 5 times before she'll actually do it. :-? This is proving to be a problem in agility, because I need her to be able to down fairly quickly on the pause table. I've been using a technique called jack potting, where when she goes down even a bit faster than usual I reward graciously with a favorite treat (such as cheese, when I would usually just use regular dog training treats) But so far Abby hasn't seemed to be connecting the extra treats with her going into the down position faster. I'm going to try to dig up my clicker and start marking the behavior, maybe that will help. But if anyone has any other suggestions, please post them, I'm getting desperate here. :lol: :P

[imported_Kat]

Run backwards with her on the lead and down her using a really fast command and if necessary physically put her down as she does it. As soon as she does it treat her very fast, with no hesitation then tell her yeahhhh and run backwards again. She should catch onto the excitement and be more willing to down for you. Also you can alternate running backwards with her running at your left side(not in a heel position but reasonably close on the lead) and then turn into her quickly and down her just as before and treat her very fast. Do this loads of times before you tackle the table, then repeat the same fast treating when you do have her on the table. Good luck :wink:

[Carolk9s]

Great suggestions Kat!
Another idea as well, think of your body language. I use a lot of body language to encourage a fast down. If I stand still and just use a hand signal with a voice command, I get a much slower down. When I started using more body language, I got a faster down. What I do is drop my shoulder and curl my upper body kind of towards the dog and down at the same time. I also use a fast chopping motion with the hand closest to the dog, palm flat, like I'm pushing something downward.
Good idea to jackpot for fast downs ONLY. Slow downs get a 'ooh lets try that again' in a happy voice. Play a game, get down on the ground yourself with a yummy treat, she gets the treat for a fast drop.
Experiment with different body moves AND treats, find one that REALLY gets her excited. Garlicky chicken, liver bites, hamburger, cheese, whatever makes her eyes light and her mouth drool!
Good luck!

[Queen Bitch]

NEVER repeat the command Abker, it teaches her that she doesn't have to obey it the first time, or 2nd or 3rd etc. Instead when she finally does get around to laying down go crazy, "GOOD DOWN!!!" and treat/praise. If she sees you getting that excited about it, she will be more excited/faster about doing it.

[kendalyn]

I taught Buck a fast down by asking him to laydown, treating him very quickly and then saying "OK!" really excitedly and having him jump up. Then we'd do it over and over. It was a big game. Up, down, up, down, etc... By the time we're down with it we're all the way across the yard. :-)

If you say Down and she doesn't lay down, just reposition her and give her the command again. I don't really buy the whole, "don't give a command twice" thing because you can't stand around forever waiting for the dog to go down. Plus, if you wait too long, the dog will forget you even gave the command. Either say down and then enforce it (make her lay down) or try having her walk a few steps with you and then turn around and do it again.

[Carolk9s]

I too have no problem giving the command more than once. If I were training a dog for obedience, I would certainly work hard towards only saying it once, but for an agility down, sometimes more reps are called for. You just do not want to stand around waiting for your dog to decide to down when they are on the pause table and the clock is ticking!

[abker17]

NEVER repeat the command Abker, it teaches her that she doesn't have to obey it the first time, or 2nd or 3rd etc.

I've heard this rule before and I've tried following it, but like Carol said in agility things are a bit different. I'd love to get to the point where I can just say it once though, and that's definatly a goal.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! :D

[courtnek]

for stubborn dogs, I have used the chair down, or table down. put the dog in a sit, on the other side of a low chair or table. Be armed with a really nice treat. sit on the floor ont he other side, call the dog. He will HAVE to go down to come under the chair/table. his butt will be up, command down and back away. once his butt goes down, so he's laying down completely, give the treat. It takes a few repititions, but once they learn it you can work on speeding it up.