Teach Your Dog to Lay Down

There are times in a dog’s life in which they may begin to annoy their owners with their restlessness, excitement, and more, leaving their owners wishing they would just lie down. Other times, an owner may need their dog to lie down on the floor in order to do an exam, or inspect the coat. Luckily, most dogs will learn to lay down on command, with proper training of course. Not only will training your dog to respond to the command to lay make your life easier, but it will also instill more confidence in your dog, encouraging a greater state of well-being and a more enjoyable life.

Before you begin teaching your dog to lay, it is helpful to teach him the command to sit. Once your dog understands how to sit, learning how to lay down is a simple next step in his learning experience. To get your dog to lay down on the ground, as him to first sit. Be sure to praise him when he sits. Next, most people choose to lift their hand and snap their fingers as the bring their hand down towards the ground, while saying the command “Lay” or “Down.” It does not matter what verbal command you choose, just make sure to use the same one consistently.

To encourage your dog to lay down, you might want to hold a treat in your hand as you lower it towards the ground. Once your dog lays down, be sure to give him the treat. Even if you choose to train without treats, offer plenty of verbal praise, and even a pat for good behavior.

Remember to remain patient. Over time, your dog will learn this simple command to lay. And once your dog learns to lay down on command, you can move on teaching him to stay, and even to roll over on onto his back or side. You can use the command to lay to quiet your dog when he gets upset, and to help him feel safe while making your life easier.