Equipment:

• Down platform or equipment long enough for dog to lay down on in a sphinx position

How To:

1. Toss a treat behind the equipment.

2. As your dog comes forward towards you, ask for a down or lure them into a down. 

   • For some dogs it is easier for them to start in a sit, then lure them into a down. 

   • For other dogs it is easier for them to start in a stand position then luring and pushing into them for the down. 

3. Once your dog is in a sphinx down position (not flopped to one side or the other on their hip), then assess their form. 

   • Rear Limbs: It’ll be easy to tell if the rear limbs are ABducted outwards from the body or if they’re crooked. 

   • Forelimbs: Make sure your dog is not ABducting out their elbows, too far stretched forward or tucked under their shoulders. You want their humerus to remain straight under the shoulder.

4. To help both realign your dog and help them adduct their limbs more into their body, reward a bit forwards into you so they almost have to crawl towards the treat. 

   • The trick is to find the sweet spot where your dog reaches forward enough that they naturally adduct their limbs to gain access to the treat, but not far enough forwards that they break their down position. 

5. Reward heavily if your dog dog adduct one of their limbs into their body and/or realigns themself straighter to you. You want to heavily reinforce the proper mechanics and form in the down position.

6. Continue to reset your dog and practice have them come into a down in front of you. 

Goal:

• Your dog should consistently down straight in front of you with a straight spine, rear toes and stifles facing forwards, breed appropriate topline, and humerus held straight under the shoulder. The elbow joint should create a 90 degree angle in most dogs.

• Here is a link to photos of the proper down form: https://www.hadleyk9fitness.com/resources#downform