Manners & obedience
How to teach a dog to lie down
A down is a calmer position than a sit, which is exactly why some dogs resist it: lying flat can feel exposed. The method below starts from a sit, uses the floor as a guide, and treats duration as its own skill. You will also find the mistakes that turn a down into a pop-up, and how to proof it so it holds with guests in the living room.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Lure from a sit
Draw the treat to the paws, then along the floor.
Pick a surface your dog likes lying on, such as a rug or a dog bed; slick tile puts some dogs off. Ask for a sit, place a treat at the nose, and move it straight down to the floor between the front paws. Many dogs bow first, then slide the elbows down. Mark as the elbows land and deliver the treat on the floor between the paws so the dog stays low. If the rear pops up, your hand moved away too fast.
Capture is the second route in. Evening works well, when your dog is winding down near you; mark and quietly pay any down offered on its own. To fade the lure, repeat the same motion with an empty hand, then turn it into a flat palm lowered toward the floor. Add the word 'down' just before the palm moves. Keep 'off' for furniture and jumping up, so 'down' only ever means lying flat.
- Start from a steady sit
- Lure to the floor slowly
- Pay between the front paws
- Keep down for lying only
Duration and proofing
Stretch the down before you step away from it.
Duration comes first, because a down is a settle as much as a position. Once your dog drops on cue, wait a beat before paying, then several beats, and feed a few calm treats while they stay down. Add a release word so the dog knows when it ends. Then add distance one step at a time, returning to pay, and distraction by rolling a toy past at a distance. Change only one of those at a time.
Common snags: luring forward too fast so the dog creeps, paying only after the dog stands, and pushing on the shoulders, which many dogs brace against. Never force the position. If lying down looks stiff or slow, ask a vet before training harder. Down and stay appear in Puppy Fundamentals and On-Leash Foundations, and Advanced Off-Leash lists sit, stay and down at distance. If an hour of private coaching would cover it, the consultation is where we will say that.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Why won't my dog lie down on command?
Often the surface is uncomfortable, the lure moves too fast, or the dog feels exposed in that spot. Try a softer surface, slow the hand, and practise somewhere quiet first.
How do I teach a down if my dog won't follow the treat?
Sit on the floor with one knee raised and lure the dog under the tunnel of your leg; many dogs lie down to fit through. You can also capture downs by marking them whenever they happen naturally.
What is the difference between down and off?
Down means lie down, and off means get your paws off a person or the furniture. Separate words keep each cue clear for your dog.
How do I make my dog stay in a down longer?
Pay while the dog is still lying down, then use a release word so they learn the position lasts until you end it. Build time before you add distance.
Keep reading
Need help with a solid down?
Book a consultation and we will watch your dog's down, check your timing, and suggest the option that suits your week.
From real owners
Rated 5.0 on Google.
Real Northline dogs