training questions

MikeINnyc · Puppy Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 26 Location: queens nyc

ok so i got my new buddy chance on saturday .. and i gotta say i already love this little guy . now i taught him to sit , give , paw and lay down. my question is the way i taught him to lay down was i made him sit the lowered the treat to the ground and said lay down.. and he is really smart and only got it after a few times but i notice when i say lay down he wont go down unless i lower the treat to the ground.. do you think he will understand lay down after a while with out me lowering the treat

Trene · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject:

yes, he'll get it eventually. Sky did.

DanniGirl · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject:

He will eventually learn. Just don't treat him until he lays completely down.
He's also a puppy so...

Cathy · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject:

Right now you are bribing him, and that is what you have to do to teach them. He is not going to understand the word command for a while, but he might understand the hand motion. Depending on his age, he might just be following food instead of really learning just yet. Only after he understands what you really are wanting him to do (lay down-not follow the food with his nose) will he associate the word with the appropriate action.
Try to get him to follow the hand signals (much easier for him to understand) without the food as you say the word. My dog can actually do any command without me saying a word, so now I have to work on the verbal part with her.
It is amazing how smart they are.