The American Beagler Forum

How do you teach the down command? Tips/suggestions welcome! Thanks.

Why would you teach down when come and sit in front is easier on handler? All takes patience and repetition, lots of priase and food lure/rewards. Start as young pup, every time you feed dog has to sit at your feet before getting food. Becomes a very positive place to be. Carolyn

I use weed eater line. Work the dog to the down command and make the dog go down by forcing it. Do this several times and for several days. Then attach a line to it collar and let it run around your backyard. Let the dog run by and give the down command if it does not obey then step on the line. It only takes a few time I teach down in a very forceful way. I use it if the dogs get close to a road or some other danger. I am not 100% sure but I think Bev used this on her Red dog that she just recently lost.

coolbrz, It takes repetition and patience, like Show Dog says. When your pup is loose in the yard and you go to pick the pup up, gently hold him down and repeat the command to "down". After a while give the command as you are approaching the pup. If he doesn't down, then you gently hold him down and repeat the "down" command. Two things to remember are not to be rough with the pup and don't get loud with him. This would only make him afraid of you, and you will never be able to teach him anything. Be patient and give a lot of praise when he complies. He will catch on quickly.

Mike

Thanks for the help so far. As for down, should they just crouch down on their stomach or completely roll/turn over on their back?

If the dog is going to be used for hunting and/or trialing, you just want him to stop and stay put until you can hook him up. It doesn't matter to me if they flatten on their bellies, sit still, whatever. (Most of the time as I go to snap them up, they roll over and show me their jewels anyway, lol).

Andy, the weedeater line method was used on Redd in Kentucky before I owned him. He spent the first 3 years of his life with the run of a big farm, and was never kenneled or leashed. Needless to say, he didn't handle well, (lol). They took him gunning with the other dogs, and if they wanted to get home at a decent hour, they'd have to put the weedeater line on Redd and step on it as he went by.

He was a long process to get to handle when I did get him, but he eventually came around. Running him in Little Pack was a nightmare; it was hard enough to hook him up once a day, much less 4 times an hour... Redd always hunted wide, too, and as aggravating as it was at times, I was pleased at his desire to hunt without quitting, and he was an excellent jump dog.

If you just want to catch the dog in the bush, it doesn't matter what position he is in when you catch him! I wouldn't want my dog to belly up to me though. I seem to feel that that dog has been mistreated or is afraid. I like my dogs to stay on their feet and come to me. I HATE chasing beagles and seldom do it these days thanks to Tritronics. Carolyn

If a dog turns over belly up, that just means that he is submissive, you are dominant. That's a good thing.