Drop on Recall
First week of training: Place your dog in the sitting
position and step two or three feet away in front of him.
While saying “Down”, quickly raise your right hand, palm
open, slightly higher than your head; pause for only a
moment and bring your hand down sharply. If your dog
does not obey, use your left hand to jerk downward on the
training collar. After he has been down for a short time,
give him the command “Sit”. You may need to give a jerk
upward with the leash. Your dog should go down when
your hand goes up. Holding your hand up for a moment the
first few days of training may help him learn the signal, but
it should soon be a quick up and down motion.
Vary your method of changing your dog from the down
to the sitting position. Sometimes command him to sit
when you are directly in front of him; other times go back
to the heel position, pause a moment and then command
him to sit.
After it appears that he understands the hand signal,
occasionally leave off the verbal command. Gradually move
to the end of the six-foot leash and give the signal and
command, “Down”.
Hold your hands together at your waist when doing the
recall. Your dog may be tempted to nose them if you let
them hang.
Second week: When teaching the down, insist on an
immediate drop, not a slow sinking to the ground. Do not
forget the praise. This is most important.
When your dog seems to understand and obeys your
command when you are standing at the end of the leash,
you may then remove it and drop him at short distances,
gradually moving to 40 feet away. If he does not obey
when off leash or at a distance of 40 feet, place him back
on leash and repeat the training. For more control at a
distance, you may attach a 40-foot lightweight cord, If he
does not work well off leash, you will usually make faster
progress by placing him back on the six-foot leash.
Third week: The next procedure is teaching your dog to
go down from the standing position. Follow the same steps
for teaching him the down from the sitting position: Leave
him in the standing position, step two or three feet away in
front of him and give the hand signal and command,
“Down”.
Fourth week: Gradually move back to the end of the
40-foot leash, finally removing the leash and dropping him
at this distance. Remember not to say his name before the
command “Down”.
Fifth week: Teaching the dog to drop in motion is the
next step, but first be sure he understands the other steps.
While heeling on leash, suddenly stop and quickly step
backward saying your dog’s name and “Come”. When he
starts coming toward you, stop suddenly and give the signal
and command, “Down”. If your training has been complete
up to this point, he should drop on your first attempt. If he
does not, give him a sharp correction by putting him down
with a jerk on the training collar. After he has been down a
few moments, give him the command, “Sit”. Then step
backward quickly and say his name and “Come”. Continue
backward until he is in full motion; then stop and have him
sit directly to your front just as when doing a recall. Be
ready to pull up on the leash to put him in the sit as he may
have learned too well on the first try and anticipates a
down command. After he has sat in front, send him to heel
as the finish of the recall.
Alternate the down and coming to you as the recall. DO
not allow him to anticipate commands.
Sixth week: The next step is taught off leash. Place your
dog in the sit-stay and take a position 25 feet to his front.
Say his name and “Come”. When halfway to you, give the
command and signal to down. Gradually increase the
distance to 40 feet. Drop him at various distances.
Alternate with straight recalls so that he will not anticipate
commands.
If he slows down when coming to you in anticipation of
a drop, start running backward and say “Come”, encour-
aging him to speed up, Never drop him unless he is coming
at full speed as it will only cause him to come in slower and
drop without a command or signal.
Do not forget to vary the exercises to prevent boredom.
Do not forget the praise.
In an obedience trial, you may use either the command
or signal to down your dog. Using both is considered a double command and will be scored against you. Using the
signal is preferred as the dog will be more alert and will give
you his undivided attention.
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