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Teaching your dog to lie down every time you order so is a valuable lesson, specially outside the house where there are dangers, for example, on the road. Your dog will also learn that it is you who controls the situation.
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| There are basically two positions of lie down: "the sphinx" in which the rear paws are collected under the body and "the plane" in which the heaps lie flat on the floor, with the paws on the sides. |
| 1. With the dog on the leash and on your left side, order it to sit. Get on your knees next to the dog and hold the leash under your knees. Grab the collar with the left hand and hold the prize with the right hand opened. |
| 2. Let the dog smell the food hidden in your fist. This will make the dog be alert, while your hand under the collar keeps it from advancing its head more. |
| 3. Move your right hand in a straight line downwards and then forwards, in between the dog's front paws. When the dog falls down following the food, give it the order "lie down". |
| 4. As soon as the dog lies down give the food reward. In this moment the position the dog adopts is not important, as long as it is comfortable. |
| PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS |
| Reinforcing the "lie down" |
| ADVICE 280 |
| If your dog tries to raise the shoulder from the lie down position before you give it the pertinent order, hurry up and slide your hand firmly through the leash until you grab it by the collar. This will counteract the upward movement of the dog with your contrary pressure. Accompany it with firm and decisive expressions. |
| ADVICE 281 |
| When the dog lies down again, repeat the order "lie down". The dog should not leave this position until you order so by saying "good" or "ok". |
| Negligent dogs |
| ADVICE 282 |
| If your dog doesn't respond to the food stimulus, try changing the reward. Use the chewing toy that fascinates your dog the most. |
| ADVICE 283 |
| Never force the dog physically to lie down if the animal doesn't want to be touched. If the dog is dominant, use nothing but rewards. If these methods fail, don't doubt it and ask for professional help. This is always better than creating bad habits in your dog. |
| Avoid hurting the dog |
| ADVICE 284 |
| Don't make pressure of most delicate zones of the dog such as its kidneys, the thoracic box, the bladder and the liver area. |
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