The Command ‘Down – Stay’

This is a natural progression from the last sequence and your puppy should learn it quite easily. He already understands what you mean by ‘Stay’ and the ‘Down’ position is a natural one. Use the lead in exactly the same way as you did for the ‘Sit – Stay’ exercise walking around him and correcting any movement.

Once you are sure he is steady in the ‘Down’ position, remove the lead and go further away from him until eventually he will stay down whilst you go out of sight. Give lots of praise when you return to him, but only whilst he remains in the ‘Down’ position.

If he jumps up to greet you, stop the praise; make him go back into the ‘Down’ position and leave him again, without praise. He will soon learn that praise comes when he stays in the position you left him but he gets no praise for getting up. It should not take long before he understands what you want him to do.