Down from Stand
Positions · 11 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to lie down from a standing position for a hand signal and the verbal cue 'Down'. A fast down from standing is genuinely useful out in the world: ask for it to let a bike or another dog pass, or to settle quickly at a cafe, and it is a building block for Distance Down. Reward generously the first few times, since lying down out on a walk is harder than at home.
Train Down from Sit first so the down itself is familiar. You will need soft treats for luring.
Training steps
Follow lure toward the floor
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Hold a treat in front of Your Dog's nose and slowly move it straight down toward the floor, close to their chest, so their head and front end follow it down. As soon as they lower toward the floor, give them the treat. If Your Dog sits, keep the lure low and close to their body rather than out in front.
Success: Your Dog follows the lure down toward the floor.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Dip elbows toward the floor
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Hold a treat at Your Dog's nose and move it down to the floor and slightly back toward their front paws. Watch for Your Dog to dip their elbows toward the floor, like the start of a bow, with their rear still up. As soon as their elbows lower, give them the treat.
Success: Your Dog dips their elbows toward the floor.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure from stand into down
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Hold a treat in front of Your Dog's nose and slowly move it straight down and slightly back toward their chest, between their front paws. As soon as they lie down, give them the treat. If Your Dog sits, they are dropping their rear first; keep the lure low and close to their body so they fold their front end down too. To reposition Your Dog for the next rep, toss a treat away or lure them from a down back up into a stand (see the Stand from Down plan). If Your Dog will not lie down for a lure from a standing position, revisit the Down from Sit plan.
Success: Your Dog lies down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Bury the lure
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Bury the lure in your prompting hand by holding the treat against your palm with your thumb. Lure Your Dog into a down, but give them a treat from your opposite hand or treat pouch instead of the buried lure.
Success: Your Dog lies down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Large hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Prompt Your Dog into a down by repeating the luring motion with your hand (palm facing down), moving from their nose down to the floor, but without a treat in your hand. Hold your hand on the floor and wait to see if they lie down. As soon as they do, give them a treat from the opposite hand or your treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hand signal 6 inches above the ground
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Prompt Your Dog into a down with a hand signal that stops 6 inches above the ground. Wait to see if they lie down, then give them a treat from the opposite hand or your treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Medium hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Prompt Your Dog into a down with a medium-sized hand signal, stopping your hand at knee height. Wait to see if they lie down, then give them a treat from the opposite hand or your treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hand signal 6 inches above your knees
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Prompt Your Dog into a down with a hand signal that stops 6 inches above your knees. Wait to see if they lie down, then give them a treat from the opposite hand or your treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Small hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Prompt Your Dog into a down with a small hand signal: flip your hand over (palm up to palm down) without bending over. Wait to see if they lie down, then give them a treat from the opposite hand or your treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies down.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Say the verbal cue 'Down', pause for 1 second, then prompt Your Dog into a down with a small hand signal if needed. As soon as they lie down, give them a treat from the opposite hand or your treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies down for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Say the verbal cue 'Down' and wait to see if Your Dog lies down. Do not use the hand signal. If they lie down, give them a treat!
Success: Your Dog lies down for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Nice work! Your Dog can now drop into a down straight from a stand for a small hand signal and for the word 'Down' alone.
To make it rock solid, proof it: restart the plan on the proof steps, or play the goal games you just earned, in new places, on different surfaces, and around distractions.
Ready for more? This is the launchpad for Distance Down, where Your Dog learns to drop at a distance, and it feeds straight into Down Stay.