Premier MannersMinder Instruction Manual page 33

Chapter 8: Game 3 – Down Stay
During this step, he'll probably look like he wants to
get up and will move around on his bed. If he gets
up, stop the treats, put him back in a down and
start the minute over again. At first you may have
to do this a bunch of times in a row because he
will get up each time to get the treat. But after 3-4
times of getting up and being put back in a down,
he will get the idea that he should stay down. When
he completes this level for 5 one-minute sessions in
a row target him off his place between trials, then
go to Step 2.
TIP: If you are just training Fido to do a down-stay
but don't need to send him to a specific location,
then between trials you can call him away from
his rug or use a leash and guide him off.
Step 2: Repeat as with Step 1 but deliver the first
treat starting at :03 seconds after Fido lies down.
At the end of the one minute, give him a few treats
from your hand while he's still in a down so that
he learns that he still has to stay down when
getting treats from your hand. Make sure you reach
down low enough so that you don't lure him into a
stand! Occasionally giving treats from your hand
will also prevent possessive pooches from guard-
ing the machine from you. They learn that when you
approach their machine they get good things from
you. You can also sometimes provide better treats
from your hand than from the machine, if you're
concerned that Fido may start guarding. (If he has a
history of food guarding, you should get help from a professional animal behavior special-
ist!). Otherwise, the treat should be the same or lower value than what's coming from the
machine because you want the dog to be more interested in staying in his "place" than
coming over to you.
Once Fido completes 5 trials in a row, go to Step 3.
Step 3: Repeat as with Step 2 but now the Treat Rate is :05 seconds with the first treat
coming at :05 seconds.
By now you probably don't have to crouch down, rather once you get Fido in a down you can
sit within 3 feet in a chair.
At the end of one minute,
treats, then target Fido off.
Checklist
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Step 2: Treat Rate :03 seconds,
starting :03 seconds after Fido lies
down. Repeat 5 times in a row.
At the end of one minute,
give some treats by hand.
Checklist
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
33
dispense a few extra