Nov 09

Why Your Dog Needs To Learn The “Emergency” Down

Training your dog the “emergency down” will allow you to take the risk of some day taking him off leash in the street. This is trained once your dog has mastered the “Down” command. This exercise is trained in an urgent tone of voice and since of this it is trained no more than twice a week, or else, it loses its punch. In addition, this command relies on the use of body language. If you use these elements correctly, you will rapidly and proficiently communicate to your dog a sense of urgent situation and a need on his part to follow your order without hesitation – the reason of the emergency down.

Once learned, this command can be used to discontinue your dog in his tracks, to prevent him from dashing out into traffic, from leaving your sight, or from entering a hazard zone that you recognize and he does not. In fact, the very tip of immediate obedience is that you can predict dangers that he cannot realize. Your dog have to follow without thinking, not take the time to look around and figure out whether or not he should follow you.

When teaching the emergency down, as you are heeling along, bend forward, slip your hand into the dog’s collar and as you shove your hand straight to the floor, shout “Dooooown” in a long, severe, hushed voice, as if something was wrong. Don’t use an annoyed tone. After all, your dog hasn’t done anything wrong. Use a tone that lets him know there’s danger brewing and he’d better drop quick. As soon as he does, even with your help out, praise him and inform him to heel. This is not a “Down, Stay.” It is an instant drop that we are after.

Practice three of these within half a block of walking and then do not use this command again for three or four days. Maintain the element of surprise in it by using it carefully. Keep in mind, this is taught so that, if you need it, you can use it to keep the dog from a disaster. If he is a slow worker, you will want him to be fast on this command. If he’s not fast in an emergency, the command, and your insurance, are worthless.

Maintain to speed up the down by placing your hand inside the necklace (not in the ring) and pushing it directly down to the ground as you say “Dooooown” in a cautious tone. Once the dog knows this command and will accomplish it fast, practice it simply once in a while. At that time, make sure that some of your practice is completed when he is off leash in the yard or in the park.

In order for this command to be an insurance strategy, it have to work flawlessly when your dog is off leash and not mostly near you. In the park, you will have to be louder to be heard. But even so, if nothing happens, sprint to your dog, grab his collar, repeat the command, and shove your hand straight to the floor as you do. With his leash back on him, heel your dog and repeat the emergency down two or three more times. If you still feel incredibly patient, allow him free again and following five full minutes, attempt the emergency down at a distance once more. If he ignores you, do again the above procedure.

When you are prepared to train him again, work on the down from a distance and not the emergency down. Apparently, he is not prepared for such complex work yet. When his “Down” from a distance is perfect, go back to the emergency down and try it again. The variation between the two commands is that one is prepared with a hand gesture and tone of voice when the dog is far away from you but looking at you while the other is done whether or not the dog is attentive.

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