Week 2 Down Under Foot Method

Equipment needed:

-6' Leather Lead
-Training Collar


STEP 1:  Start with your dog in a sit position.   
STEP 2:  Your right hand will be holding the leash as you (in a non hurried way) let the loose leash fall to the ground, in a manner that it can be stepped upon easily. 
STEP 3:  If your dog is not in a sit at this point, say sit and then reinforce that through molding or collar correction.   Then say "down" and take up all the slack in your leash from under your foot.
STEP 4:  Every time your dog allows more slack in the leash, take up that slack.
STEP 5:  Patiently wait your dog out until they decide to lay down.
STEP 6:  Say "good boy" or "good girl" or "good [dog's name]" (remember this does not mean release), and then you can release them from the command.   Remember we have not started down stay, so don't make the dog stay there for any amount of real time yet.  We are just teaching what the position of down is in order to become a reliable down in different environments later on.

Do about 15 or 20 repetitions of this a day.   Also the goal this week, is to have Axel start doing the down without you needing to take up the slack (but remember in order to do that, you need to take up the slack when needed in a well timed way, and then only praise when they are in a down where the belly is on the ground and they are relaxed).