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Permalink Reply by Ivy & Bryson on October 13, 2007 at 1:06pm

We had the same issue when we first started teaching Bryson down! Same thing with the front going down and the butts still pointing up. When we were successful in getting his front down, we would try to gently press his butt down, and as soon as his butts touch the floor, we gave him a huge treat and showered him with "GOOD BOY!!!". It took some time but he finally got it :) The stomach is indeed the way to your corgi's heart (and mind), don't afraid to use a lot of bribery! Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Sam on October 13, 2007 at 1:51pm

This can be a tricky one. One thing you may find helpful is to sit on the floor. Place one foot flat on the floor with the knee bent making sort of a bridge. Use the treat to lure the dog under the bridge giving you help to make his butt go down too. I have found the downs to be difficult with many of the corgis. Once they learn it I would ask for it whenever you feed them or prior to doing something they really like. Most of my dogs came to love the down when we used in it agility training.

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Permalink Reply by Zed on October 13, 2007 at 5:20pm

I'm still working on Lie down with Zed now that he's mastered sit. I'm having a similar issue but as Ivy & Bryson said as soon as you get the butt down say "Good Boy" and apply treat. I don't have a lot of time to train but even in limited time Zed is making progress.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on October 14, 2007 at 6:37pm

I had trouble, but what we did was have the dog sit next to us on and then we told her to lie down and put our arms under her legs and made her lay down. We kept doing that and it seemed to work. She now does it with just a lay down. We also used a treat in the hand and kept in our hand, but put it on the ground and she followed.

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Permalink Reply by pat_m on October 14, 2007 at 7:28pm

Our puppy trainer said this was tough for a Corgi - But Byron does it.

Still we do have issues with him lie down, We are currently in a come when called class. He will lie doen but will not stay. We are currently using a Sit/Stay command.

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Permalink Reply by Joanna on October 14, 2007 at 11:18pm

have you ever tried to back her into a corner?? we took gus to a class and he would not lay down for nothing!! finally the trainer told us to try it at home and have him positioned where when you tell him down there is no where to go but down. try that and let me know how it works. if it doesn't i can send you an email of all our training sessions....good luck...and use cheese!! they love cheese.

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Permalink Reply by Joanna on October 14, 2007 at 11:20pm

and make sure the treat is sent to her fast and towards her lower body under her chin, you know they don't have the world's longest reach with their legs. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Cindi on October 18, 2007 at 12:30am

Hi gang...
Not unusual to have difficulty with teaching a corgi to lie down. It's the way their hind legs are made that cause problems. One might lie with their legs forward and one might with their legs back. Depends on the dog. Every single one of my corgis took effort on this one.

Sam, your idea about the treat under the leg is an excellent one. I've used it in class before. Also, if your corgi will sit, bring the treat from the nose SLOWLY until they hit the floor. Instead of pushing the rear end down, try gently keeping your hand there to simply encourage them not to pop up their rears. Pushing can hurt, as well as changes the command from "down" to "I'm going to push you down."

Good luck. Drop me a line if I can help.

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Permalink Reply by The Divas on February 2, 2009 at 10:20pm

My puppy REFUSED! (violently) to lay down when we first tried this. I just quit worrying about it for quite a while, but she retained the meaning of "lay down" because now she miraculously does it! We do "SIT" first, and then lay down. My other corgi doesn't fight the command, but doesn't really like to follow it. What works for her is to make her sit, then take her leash and pull it downward with a constant, steady pressure while telling her to lay down. Progress is slow, but it is working better each time we try it. My dogs also love to get their treats, so I always have those handy and praise them whenever they finally follow it.

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Permalink Reply by Julia on February 5, 2009 at 1:16am

I'm so glad to hear that others have the same problem. At 3 yrs. old, Lilli still will not do this. In fact, if told "down," she will turn and bolt out the doggie door, or under the bed. On the floor, under the leg, on a platform, on the bed, when she is just doing it anyway, in a corner, pushing her bottom, with a leash, aaaaarrrgh! Something, at some point, spooked her, and she has just never recovered (she spooks easily and long-term). Maybe with time (more time) it will come.

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