I have a 12-week-old Labrador, and overall, training is going great! However, I’ve been facing one issue: when I put her into a down position, she does it immediately, and I reward her with a “yes!” and a treat. The problem is that right after I reward her, she immediately sits up from her down position.
I’m looking for advice on how to increase the duration she stays down. I’ve been trying to hold off on rewarding her for 5 to 10 seconds before giving the treat, but that doesn’t seem to help.
Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips or techniques to encourage her to stay down longer would be greatly appreciated
It sounds like you’re on the right track by trying to extend the duration before giving the treat, but it’s important to adjust your approach to help your Labrador stay in the down position longer. Start by rewarding her for staying down for just a few seconds, gradually increasing the time before giving the treat. Be sure to use a consistent and clear command, and gently guide her back into the down position if she gets up before you’re ready. You can also try using a leash or long line to help manage her position and prevent her from getting up. Additionally, ensure you’re using high-value treats that keep her motivated and engaged. Patience and consistency are key, so continue practicing and rewarding small improvements to help her build the desired behavior over time.
Using a release command, such as OK or free, helped my dog grasp that she should remain in the down position until I gave the command to release her. This approach made it easier to increase the length of time she stayed down.
