Distance Down
Basic Manners · 27 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to lie down and stay from a stand or while moving, at distances up to 100 feet, for the verbal cue 'Down'.
**Why train a distance down?** A reliable down at a distance is a vital safety skill. If Your Dog runs across a busy road, you can cue them to lie down and stay rather than call them back and risk a second crossing, so you can safely walk over and get them. It is also a cornerstone of off-leash freedom, giving Your Dog room to roam while keeping you in control.
**Safety:** When you practice outdoors before this is reliable, use a [long-line](https://pushdropstick.com/help/longlines) attached to a harness, or a secure fenced area. A long line, not an electric fence, is the safe and kind way to give Your Dog freedom while you train (see [Gear to Avoid](https://pushdropstick.com/help/geartoavoid)).
**Off-leash safety:** No amount of training makes a dog 100% reliable, so pick safe places and times for off-leash freedom. Avoid dawn and dusk when wildlife is most active, stay clear of busy roads, farm animals, and popular trails, know your local hunting seasons, and always follow leash laws. Factor in Your Dog's breed, too: dogs bred to work independently or with a high prey drive, such as many hounds, terriers, and huskies, can be more of a challenge off-leash than breeds developed to stay close to people.
For this plan you will also need:
**- A No-Reward Marker:** such as "Oops," to mark the moment Your Dog breaks position. This helps them understand why they won't be getting a treat for that rep.
**- A Release Cue:** such as "Okay!" or "Break!" to let Your Dog know they are free to move out of position, especially at the end of a training session. When you always use a release cue, Your Dog will learn to stay until released!
Training steps
Practice random downs while standing inside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, cue 'Down'. If they do not lie down for the verbal cue, you can use the hand signal to help, but the rep will still count as a fail. At distance, a hand signal becomes hard to see, so a reliable verbal response is the goal.
Success: Your Dog is standing.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while walking inside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
While Your Dog is following you around the house, cue 'Down' when they are not expecting it.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Introduce a barrier inside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Set Your Dog up behind a barrier where they can still see and hear you, such as a baby gate or their leash tethered to something solid. Step 2 feet away and cue 'Down'. The barrier helps Your Dog practice responding without creeping toward you.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
4 feet from a barrier inside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 4 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
6 feet from a barrier inside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 6 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
8 feet from a barrier inside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 8 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
10 feet from a barrier inside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 10 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice down inside from 5 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, cue 'Down' from 5 feet away without a barrier. Watch for creeping. If Your Dog takes a step toward you, mark it with an "Oops" and try again later.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice down inside from 10 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, cue 'Down' from 10 feet away without a barrier. Watch for creeping. If Your Dog takes a step toward you, mark it with an "Oops" and try again later.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while standing outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
In a low-distraction outdoor environment, cue 'Down' when Your Dog is not expecting it.
Success: Your Dog is standing.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while walking outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
While walking around in a low-distraction outdoor environment, cue 'Down' when Your Dog is not expecting it.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Introduce a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Set Your Dog up behind a barrier where they can still see and hear you, such as a fence or their leash tethered to something solid. Step 2 feet away and cue 'Down'. Return to Your Dog to deliver the treat in the down position.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
4 feet from a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 4 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
6 feet from a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 6 feet away and cue 'Down'. Return to Your Dog to deliver the treat in the down position.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
8 feet from a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 8 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
10 feet from a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 10 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
15 feet from a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 15 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
20 feet from a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 20 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
30 feet from a barrier outside
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Step 30 feet away and cue 'Down'.
Success: Your Dog is behind a barrier.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while walking outside from 10 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
In a low-distraction outdoor environment, cue 'Down' from 10 feet away when Your Dog is not expecting it. Watch for creeping. If Your Dog takes a step toward you, mark it with an "Oops" and try again later.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while walking outside from 15 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
In a low-distraction outdoor environment, cue 'Down' from 15 feet away when Your Dog is not expecting it. Watch for creeping. If Your Dog takes a step toward you, mark it with an "Oops" and try again later.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while walking outside from 20 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
In a low-distraction outdoor environment, cue 'Down' from 20 feet away when Your Dog is not expecting it. Watch for creeping. If Your Dog takes a step toward you, mark it with an "Oops" and try again later.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while walking outside from 30 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
In a low-distraction outdoor environment, cue 'Down' from 30 feet away when Your Dog is not expecting it. Watch for creeping. If Your Dog takes a step toward you, mark it with an "Oops" and try again later.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Practice random downs while walking outside from 50 feet away
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
In a low-distraction outdoor environment, cue 'Down' from 50 feet away when Your Dog is not expecting it. Watch for creeping. If Your Dog takes a step toward you, mark it with an "Oops" and try again later.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Review stay outside, put a treat on the ground for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Cue Your Dog to 'Down' from 10 feet away, then approach and place a treat on the ground for 3 seconds before reinforcing and releasing them from the stay.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue and stays down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Cue from 10 feet outside, approach and walk around in a circle
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Cue Your Dog to 'Down' from 10 feet away, then approach and walk around them in a circle before reinforcing and releasing them from the stay.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue and stays down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Cue from 10 feet outside, approach and walk around in both directions
Setup: Your Dog is walking.
Cue Your Dog to 'Down' from 10 feet away, then approach and walk around them in a circle in both directions before reinforcing and releasing them from the stay.
Success: Your Dog lies down for the verbal cue and stays down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Distance Down.
Now it's time to proof Your Dog's new skill. You can restart the plan using proof steps, or play games with the goals you just earned. Practice both in different locations and around distractions, then put it to work on your off-leash adventures together.