Down
Level 3: Build Duration

You will learn:

• Cueing
• Reinforcement​

Your dog will learn:

• Self-control
• Respond to cue

The goal of this exercise is to extend the duration of the down position.

uses for this behavior

• Drop on recall
• Focus from a distance

tips for success

• This is the beginning of teaching a stay

Make it a game!

• Give your hand signal cue when your dog gives you attention.
  
• Give your verbal "sit" cue when your dog is looking at a mild distraction.
  
• Practice your verbal "sit" cue only 2 or 3 times, then switch to your hand signal cue only 2 or 3 times. Which cue gets the faster response?

Training Steps:

Step 1:
Give the "down" cue. When the dog lies down, pause one-half second before you click. Be sure to toss the treat so the dog must get up to eat it.

Click Points

• Belly on the ground for a small amount of time
• Belly on the ground, count to measure time

Tag Points

• Before you click,
  the tag point is: Pause, 1, 2
• After you click,
  the tag point is: Toss the treat

Step 2:
Repeat, gradually increasing the pause before you click. Work up to a pause of three seconds.

Click Points

• Belly on the ground, count to measure time

Tag Points

• Before you click,
  the tag point is: Pause for one second
• Before you click,
  the tag point is: Pause for two seconds
• After you click,
  the tag point is: Toss the treat

Step 3:
​Vary the duration. Sometimes click after a short pause, sometimes after a longer pause.

Tag Points

• Yo-yo the pause time

Step 4:
When you have a duration of a few seconds, give your release cue, then click. Toss the treat to reset.

Tag Points

• Before you click,
  the tag point is: Pause
• After your release cue, the tag point is: Click for jumping up, then give the treat

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