Why Your Dog Needs To Learn The “Emergency” Down

Teaching your dog the “emergency down” will enable you to take the risk of some day taking him off leash in the street. This is taught after your dog has mastered the “Down” command. This exercise is taught in an urgent tone of voice and because of this it is practiced no more than twice a week, otherwise, it loses its punch. In addition, this command relies on the use of body language. If you use these elements properly, you will quickly and efficiently communicate to your dog a sense of emergency and a need on his part to follow your instruction without hesitation - the purpose of the emergency down.

Once learned, this command can be used to stop your dog in his tracks, to stop him from dashing out into traffic, from leaving your sight, or from entering a danger zone that you understand and he does not. In fact, the very point of instant obedience is that you can foresee dangers that he cannot understand. Your dog must obey without thinking, not take the time to look around and figure out whether or not he should obey you.

When teaching the emergency down, as you are heeling along, lean forward, slide your hand into the dog's collar and as you push your hand straight to the ground, say “Dooooown” in a long, serious, hushed tone, as if something was wrong. Don't use an angry tone. After all, your dog hasn't done anything wrong. Use a tone that lets him know there's trouble brewing and he'd better drop fast. As soon as he does, even with your help, praise him and tell him to heel. This is not a “Down, Stay.” It is an immediate 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. Keep the element of surprise in it by using it sparingly. Remember, this is taught so that, if you need it, you can use it to save the dog from an accident. If he is a slow worker, you will need him to be quick on this command. If he's not quick in an emergency, the command, and your insurance, are worthless.

Continue to speed up the down by placing your hand inside the collar (not in the ring) and pushing it straight down to the ground as you say “Dooooown” in a secretive tone. Once the dog knows this command and will execute it rapidly, practice it only once in a while. At that time, make sure that some of your practice is done when he is off leash in the yard or in the park.

In order for this command to be an insurance policy, it must work perfectly when your dog is off leash and not particularly near you. In the park, you will have to be louder to be heard. But even so, if nothing happens, rush to your dog, grab his collar, repeat the command, and push your hand straight to the ground 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 very patient, let him loose again and after five full minutes, try the emergency down at a distance once more. If he ignores you, repeat the above procedure.

When you are ready to train him again, work on the down from a distance and not the emergency down. Obviously, he is not ready for such advanced work yet. When his “Down” from a distance is perfect, go back to the emergency down and try it again. The difference between the two commands is that one is done with a hand signal 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.