Kroki

Question · Dog

How do I teach my dog to lie down?

The short answer

Put a soft mat down, ask your dog to sit, then lower a treat from its nose to the floor and draw it slowly away from the paws. When the elbows touch the mat, mark and reward between the paws. Fade the treat into a hand signal, then say “Down” first. Many grown dogs dislike lying on cold or hard floors, so carry the mat to new places at the start. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs of all ages, teaches Down among its steps.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Give the down a comfortable place

    Use a mat, towel or folded blanket. Lying down on cold tiles, wet grass or gravel is unpleasant for many dogs, and older dogs with stiff joints often refuse it. A familiar mat also makes the down easier to transfer to new places later.

  2. Lure down from a sit or a stand

    From a sit, take a treat from the nose straight to the floor, then slowly away from the paws. Tall, lean dogs often lie down more easily from a stand: lower the treat between the front paws and back towards the chest, and the dog folds backwards into a down.

  3. Mark the elbows, pay on the mat

    Say “Top!” the moment both elbows rest on the mat and place the treat between the paws. Give a second treat a moment later if your dog is still lying down. Several short rounds of five to eight repeats suit most adult dogs.

  4. Rebuild a worn-out cue with a fresh word

    If your dog has heard “Down” many times without following it, or the word has been used for “get off the sofa”, it may mean little now. Choose a new word, such as “Lie” or “Mat”, and teach it from the lure as if your dog had never heard a cue for lying down.

  5. Fade the lure, then lead with the word

    Repeat the movement with an empty hand and reward from a pouch, and make the movement smaller over several sessions. Then say the word once, pause, and give the hand signal. If nothing happens, help with your hand, not with a louder word.

  6. Practise in new places, mat first

    Take the mat to the garden, a café or a friend’s home and ask for a down there. Many dogs find lying down outdoors hard because they feel exposed. Start in quiet corners, reward generously and fade the mat out only when the down is easy.

Teaching a young puppy instead?

A puppy usually learns down quickly, often by being rewarded whenever it flops down on its own. Sessions should stay at a minute or two, and soft floors matter for puppies too. The puppy page explains how to lure and catch the down in the first weeks at home.

What research says about teaching adult dogs a down

Training method changes how a dog feels during practice, not just what it learns. In a study of companion dogs at training schools, dogs taught with aversive methods showed more stress behaviours, larger rises in the stress hormone cortisol after training and more pessimistic responses in a later test than dogs taught with rewards (Vieira de Castro and colleagues 2020). The study compared schools rather than assigning dogs at random, so it cannot prove cause, but it fits with what many owners see when a down is forced.

Older dogs can still learn a new cue, they just need a little more time. In a study of 95 Border Collies, older dogs were slower to learn a task, yet age had no effect on how well they remembered it later (Wallis and colleagues 2016).

You also don’t need to practise every day. Dogs trained once a week needed fewer sessions to learn a task than dogs trained five times a week (Meyer and Ladewig 2008). For a busy owner, a few relaxed sessions a week can be enough to rebuild a down.

When a grown dog won’t lie down

  • It lies down at home but not outside: the ground may be cold or wet, or it may feel too exposed. Bring the mat and practise near a wall or hedge first.
  • It has long legs or a deep chest: lure from a stand, or sit on the floor with one knee raised and lure the dog under your leg so it has to duck down.
  • It is older or stiff: let it take its time, practise on thick bedding and keep sessions short. Don’t ask for downs on stairs or slippery floors.
  • It goes down, then pops straight up: reward between the paws, add a second treat while it is still lying down, and release it before it stands up by itself.

Common mistakes

  • Pressing on the shoulders or pulling the front legs. It is uncomfortable and often makes dogs brace and resist.
  • Using the same word for lying down and for getting off furniture. Your dog can’t know which one you mean.
  • Saying “Down, down, DOWN”. The cue loses meaning each time it is repeated without a result.
  • Expecting a down in a busy park before it works in a quiet garden. Build up from easy places to harder ones.

When to see a professional

Down is a calm cue. Talk to a professional if:

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

Why won’t my dog lie down when I ask?

Your dog may find the floor uncomfortable, feel unsafe in that place, or simply not understand the word yet. Try a mat, a quieter spot and an easier lure, and check for pain if this is new.

Can an older dog learn to lie down?

Yes, an older dog can learn down, though it may need a few more sessions and a soft surface. If getting down or up looks hard, ask your vet before practising more.

How do I teach a rescue dog to lie down?

Give your rescue dog time to settle in first, then lure the down on a soft mat in a quiet room. Many rescue dogs relax faster if you sit on the floor beside them instead of standing over them.

Why does my dog lie down at home but not on walks?

Lying down outside can feel unsafe or uncomfortable, especially on wet or cold ground. Bring a mat, choose quiet spots and reward more generously than at home.

Is it bad if my dog won’t lie down on hard floors?

No, many dogs avoid lying on hard or cold floors, especially lean or older ones. Offer a mat, and if your dog avoids lying down everywhere, have its joints checked.

How can I teach a big dog to lie down?

Lure slowly and keep the treat close to the chest, so a big dog has room to fold its legs. Some large dogs lie down more easily from a stand than from a sit.

How long should my dog stay lying down?

At first, a second or two is enough before you reward and release. Add time slowly, and use a clear release word such as “Free!” so your dog knows when the down ends.

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