Chapter 7: Down - Premier MannersMinder Instruction Manual

Recommended Daily Practice:
Three sessions of 5-10 Downs.
NOTE: If your dog knows how to lie down on com-
mand, skip this chapter. If your dog doesn't know
this yet, don't fret. It will only take a few short
sessions and he only needs to know how to lie
down for a second or two before you continue with
the polite-at-the-door training.
Here are two different methods you can use.
Method One: The "L" Pattern
Start with Fido already in a sit and hold a treat
several inches below his nose so that he has to
look down to touch it. This will draw his nose down
and cause him to lower his head and front end a
little. When he touches lower to sniff it, let him eat
the treat, then offer additional treats in the same
location. When he eats 10 treats in a row without
lifting his rear off the ground, go to Trial 2. If he
gets up to get to the treat, then you're holding it
too low. Raise it a little for now.
Next, hold the treat a little lower so that Fido
bends down a little more. If he loses interest or
keeps getting up, you're holding the treat down too
far. Continue this process until he's pretty good,
then increase the difficulty in the next trial by
holding the treat further down. Once you've gradu-
ally worked to the level where the treat is almost
on the ground, take the next step by holding the
treat on the ground but a few inches away from
him. This will allow him to bring the front of his
body the rest of the way down. Overall, you are
moving the treat down and then away from him
in an "L" pattern. Pretty soon he should be going
down fairly easily.
NOTE: For small dogs with very short legs, some-
times it's easier to have them on their raised dog
bed so that they have to reach down a little to
get their treat.

Chapter 7: Down

28
The "L" Pattern
Checklist
Step 1
Trial 1
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Trial 2
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Trial 3
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
For small dogs with very short legs,
sometimes it's easier to have them
on a raised dog bed.