Teach Your Dog To Go To Bed And RELAX - Professional Dog Training Tips

Summary

In this McCann Dogs video, Kayl McCann teaches viewers how to train their dogs to lie down on a bed calmly during family activities like dinner or TV time. She begins by luring the dog onto the bed with treats and gradually introduces the 'on your bed' command. Kayl then adds the 'down' command, reinforcing it with rewards. The training progresses to increasing the distance between the trainer and the bed, and building the duration the dog stays on the bed. The video highlights the importance of positive reinforcement and clear communication to establish a calm and obedient behavior in dogs.

Takeaways

• 🐾 Kayl McCann from McCann Dogs is teaching a method to train dogs to lie down on their bed calmly.
• 🍽 The exercise is useful for times when the owner wants to eat dinner or watch TV without the dog getting in the way.
• 📢 The command 'on your bed' is introduced to guide the dog to the bed, with rewards used to reinforce the behavior.
• 🐕 The dog, Slam, is initially lured onto the bed with treats and the command is practiced until the dog associates it with the action.
• 👏 Positive reinforcement with treats and verbal praise is used to encourage the dog to lie down on the bed.
• 🍖 Having several treats ready in hand ensures the training session isn't interrupted by searching for rewards.
• 🔽 The trainer rewards the dog low to the bed to discourage the dog from getting up to receive the treat.
• 🕒 The training gradually increases in difficulty by adding the 'down' command and practicing at a distance from the bed.
• 🏡 The goal is for the dog to stay on the bed until released, creating a calm and relaxed environment for the household.
• 📈 The training is built upon success, with the trainer emphasizing the importance of gradually increasing the difficulty and distance.
• 🎥 The video showcases the training process in a step-by-step manner, demonstrating the effectiveness of positive reinforcement.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video by Kayl McCann?

The main focus of the video is teaching dogs to lie down on their bed and be calm, especially during family activities like dinner or watching TV.

Why is it beneficial to teach a dog to lie down on a bed during family time?

It helps the dog relax and settle in their own space, preventing them from being underfoot or causing disruptions, which can be an alternative to crating the dog.

What are some prerequisites for this training exercise according to the video?

The dog should already know basic commands and be able to lie down on command with the help of food and hand signals.

How does Kayl McCann introduce the 'on your bed' command to the dog?

Kayl uses treats to lure the dog onto the bed and introduces the command 'on your bed' while the dog is being guided onto the bed.

What technique does Kayl use to encourage the dog to lie down after getting on the bed?

Kayl lowers the treat from the dog's nose to its toes until the dog is in the down position, reinforcing the 'down' command.

Why does Kayl reward the dog frequently during the initial training?

Frequent rewards prevent the dog from getting up out of the down position before being told to, helping to establish the correct behavior.

What are the two key tricks Kayl mentions to help the dog learn the exercise more effectively?

The two tricks are having several pieces of food ready in hand to avoid fumbling for treats, and rewarding the dog low to the bed to discourage getting up.

How does Kayl transition the exercise to work on the dog's independence?

Kayl practices the exercise with the dog at a distance from the bed, gradually increasing the time between treats and the distance from the bed.

What is the goal when practicing the 'on your bed' exercise with the dog off the bed?

The goal is to have the dog understand the command and lie down on the bed without needing to be physically guided onto it.

How does Kayl ensure the dog remains on the bed even when she walks away?

Kayl practices the exercise by rewarding the dog when it stays on the bed even after she walks away, gradually increasing the distance and duration.

What is the final aim of this training according to the video?

The final aim is to have the dog reliably lie down on its bed and stay there until released, even when the owner is not immediately present.

Outlines

00:00

🐕 Teaching 'On Your Bed' Command

Kayl McCann from McCann Dogs introduces a training exercise to teach dogs to lie down on their bed calmly, providing a peaceful environment during family meals or TV time. The video emphasizes the importance of basic training, such as lying down on command with food and hand signals, before attempting this exercise. Kayl demonstrates how to lure the dog onto the bed with treats while introducing the 'on your bed' command. She then adds the 'down' command, rewarding the dog frequently to reinforce staying in the down position on the bed. Kayl also shares tips for successful training, such as having multiple treats ready, rewarding low to the bed to prevent the dog from getting up, and feeding one piece at a time to prolong the exercise. The goal is to build on the dog's success and gradually increase the distance between the trainer and the bed.

05:00

🐾 Advancing the 'On Your Bed' Exercise

In the second paragraph, Kayl continues to practice the 'on your bed' exercise with her dog, Slam, gradually increasing the time between treats to encourage Slam to hold his position without immediate rewards. She uses verbal cues and low rewards to maintain his focus. Kayl then works on increasing the distance between herself and the bed, aiming to leave Slam on the bed while she walks away and returns, without him getting up. Despite the presence of a food bowl as a potential distraction, Slam successfully maintains his position. The video highlights the importance of gradual distance and duration increases, along with continuous communication with the dog, to minimize mistakes during training. Kayl concludes by emphasizing the enjoyment and positive reinforcement aspect of the training, encouraging viewers to subscribe for more dog training videos.

Keywords

💡Dog Training

Dog training refers to the process of teaching dogs to behave in ways that are acceptable to humans. In the video, Kayl McCann is teaching her dog to lie down on a bed, which is a specific exercise aimed at creating a calm and controlled environment during family dinners or TV time. This is a common theme in dog training, where commands and behaviors are taught to enhance the dog's ability to coexist peacefully with humans.

💡Lie Down

The command 'lie down' is a fundamental part of dog training where the dog is taught to assume a resting position on the ground. In the script, Kayl uses this command to instruct her dog to relax and settle on the bed, which is a step towards achieving the desired behavior of the dog staying calm and not disrupting family activities.

💡Bed

In the context of the video, 'bed' refers to a designated resting place for the dog, which is used as part of the training exercise. The bed is not just a piece of furniture but a tool in training, helping the dog to associate it with relaxation and calm behavior. Kayl uses treats and commands to lure the dog onto the bed, reinforcing the idea that the bed is a place for the dog to be when not engaged in other activities.

💡Treats

Treats are used in dog training as positive reinforcement to reward the dog for performing the desired behavior. In the script, Kayl uses treats to lure her dog onto the bed and to reward him for lying down. Treats serve as a motivational tool, helping the dog understand which actions are rewarded and thus should be repeated.

💡Hand Signal

A hand signal is a non-verbal cue used in dog training to communicate a command. The script mentions that the dog has learned the basics of lying down with some food and a hand signal, indicating that non-verbal communication is part of the training process. This helps in situations where verbal commands might not be effective or practical.

💡Down Position

The 'down position' is a specific posture in which the dog lies flat on the ground with its belly touching the floor. In the video, Kayl lowers the treat from the dog's nose to its toes to encourage the dog to assume the down position on the bed, which is a crucial step in the training exercise.

💡Rewarding

Rewarding in dog training is the act of giving positive feedback to the dog for performing a desired behavior. Kayl rewards her dog with treats and verbal praise when he successfully lies down on the bed, reinforcing the behavior. The script emphasizes the importance of rewarding frequently to prevent the dog from getting up out of the down position before the trainer is ready.

💡Distance Training

Distance training involves teaching the dog to perform commands even when the trainer is not physically close. In the script, Kayl practices the 'on your bed' command at a distance, gradually increasing the space between her and the bed. This is important for the dog to understand that the command is effective regardless of the trainer's proximity.

💡Stay

The command 'stay' is used to teach the dog to remain in a specific position or place until released by the trainer. In the video, Kayl works on teaching her dog to stay on the bed until she gives the release command. This command is essential for maintaining control over the dog's behavior in various situations.

💡Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a training method that involves rewarding the dog for good behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. The script describes how Kayl uses treats and praise to positively reinforce her dog's actions of getting on the bed and lying down, which is a core principle in the training process.

Highlights

Teach your dog to lie down on a bed and remain calm while you engage in other activities like having dinner or watching TV.

The exercise works best if the dog has already learned the basics of lying down using food and hand signals.

Start by luring the dog onto the bed with treats and introducing the 'on your bed' command, then rewarding when the dog follows the command.

Once the dog is comfortable getting on the bed, add the down command by luring the dog into a lying position.

It's important to reward the dog frequently to prevent it from getting up before it's supposed to.

Always have several pieces of food ready to avoid delays that could cause the dog to get out of position.

Reward your dog low to the bed to avoid encouraging it to stand up. Keep the reward hand close to the bed.

Increase the time between rewards as the dog gets better at staying on the bed, encouraging longer hold times in the down position.

Advance the exercise by increasing the distance between you and the bed, teaching the dog to go to the bed from farther away.

Walk away from the dog and return to reward it while it stays on the bed to reinforce that staying put is a good thing.

Keep distractions, such as food bowls, around to see how well the dog stays focused on the bed despite nearby temptations.

Use your voice to assist the dog and provide reassurance while building distance and duration for the 'on your bed' exercise.

Focus on gradual progress to minimize mistakes. Monitor the dog closely, even when you increase the distance.

Maintain a positive tone throughout the exercise to ensure the dog finds the training fun and engaging.

This simple, daily-use command helps control your dog in a positive way and can be a great alternative to crating.

Transcripts

- Go on your bed, on your bed, lie down.

Good boy.

Wouldn't it be nice to teach your dog

to go and lie down on a bed and be calm

when you're having dinner with your family

rather than them circling your table like sharks,

or maybe you wanna sit down and watch TV?

Today, we're gonna teach your dog

exactly how to do this exercise.

My name's Kayl McCann.

Welcome back to McCann Dogs.

(guitar strums) (dog barks)

If this is your first time with us,

don't forget to hit that subscribe button.

We post brand new videos every single week to help

you enjoy some great quality time with your dog.

One of the most common commands that we use with our dogs

in everday life at home with them is

either go and lie down or on your bed.

And we find that teaching the dog to relax and settle

and go and lie down on their bed can be a great alternative

to having to put your dog in a crate

once they have a bit more training.

Maybe you wanna sit down watch TV for a moment,

you wanna sit down and have some dinner,

and you don't want the dog in your hair,

havin' him go and relax and having a spot

to call their own can be really helpful.

It's dinnertime here at our household so I'm gonna use

a bit of Slam's dinner to work on this exercise

of go and lie down on your bed.

Now, you're gonna find that this exercise goes a lot faster

if your dog's already learned the basics

of being able to lie down with some food

and a bit of a hand signal.

Once your dog can do that this is gonna be pretty easy.

So, I'm gonna start off by taking a couple treats

in my hand here and I'm just gonna lure Slam onto the bed,

and as I do that I'm gonna introduce him

to the command of on your bed.

Seems pretty simple as you can tell.

On your bed, yeah, so once he gets on the bed,

I'm gonna yes and reward him.

Now, he just chose to sit, that's totally fine.

Okay, get it and have him come off the bed

Here, bean.

On your bed.

Yes, good boy.

I'm just gonna practice getting

on the bed and getting rewarded.

On your bed.

Yes, you can see he's starting to get faster.

He's putting two and two together.

Bed means treats.

On your bed, yes, good boy.

One more time.

Good.

On your bed.

Yes, so clearly he has no trouble getting on the bed

for some food, so the next thing we're gonna do

is add the down part to it.

Now that Slam's been rewarded for getting

on the bed a few times, I'm gonna start

adding the down part to the exercise,

so I'm just gonna encourage him off the bed.

Okay, good, so I can start, okay, easy buddy,

so I can start from the beginning.

I have some food in my hand, on your bed,

yes, good boy.

Down.

Now to get him down I'm just gonna lower from his nose

to his toes until he's in the down position.

Yes, good down.

Good boy, yes.

Good down.

Now, you're gonna notice, I'm rewarding him

very frequently and this is to prevent any opportunity

for him to get up out of the down position

before I want him to.

Yes, good boy.

Now, I'm on my last treat, so I'm gonna release him.

Okay, good boy.

To start to teach them that you wanna stay on the bed,

comfortable and be rewarded,

until I let you know that you can get up from that bed.

Now, whenever you're teaching your dog something brand new,

you always wanna build on success.

So my goal when I'm practicing this

is that when I do it my puppy or my dog

makes very few mistakes,

so there's a couple tricks I wanna point out to you

that's gonna help that happen.

Number one, before I start,

I have several pieces of food in my hand.

What I don't wanna do is have him lying down

and then be trying to fish for my treats,

and all while I'm doing that he's able to get up

and out of position, so I've several pieces

of food ready ahead of time.

The second thing is that when I reward him,

I'm gonna reward him really low down to the bed,

so that he's not encouraged to get up and meet me halfway.

If I was to say, yes, good boy,

and hold my hand above his head like this

I'm basically insinuating that I want him

to get up out of position,

so my hand needs to be nice and low

and my food needs to be ready.

Ready, on your bed, lie down.

Yes, good boy.

Good boy.

And I'm only feeding him one little piece of food at a time

and this helps lengthen the amount of time

that he remains on the bed.

If I was to give him the whole handful at once,

I would pretty much be out of food

and my exercise would be done too quickly.

Yes, good boy.

Now, I've got him on my last piece of food

so I'm gonna tell him,

okay, yes, good boy, and encourage him

to get up off that bed.

Now, off camera, I have practiced this exercise

multiple times so he has had a lot of repetition

of getting on the bed, lying down and then being rewarded.

So, the next thing that I wanna do is

advance to being able to have him

at a distance from the bed.

I don't wanna have to be sitting right beside it

whenever I want him to go and do his own thing.

So, again I have a couple pieces of food ready

and I'm gonna encourage him off the bed in a minute

and I'm just gonna throw one piece of food on the bed

and encourage him to get on it.

As he's traveling towards the bed,

I'm gonna give him the command on your bed.

Once he gets the treat,

then I'm gonna work my lie down exercise.

We're starting to transfer the on your bed exercise

to being a bit more independent.

So, I'm just gonna start with him off the bed

so I can work him at a distance.

Okay, bud, here, come here, good boy.

So, I'm gonna hold onto him.

It's a pretty good problem when your dog

doesn't want to leave the bed

in order for you to practice this.

So, I have a piece of food,

and we're just gonna throw it on the bed.

Look, there it is.

Okay, on your bed.

Yes, lie down.

Yay, good boy.

Good on your bed.

Good down, yes.

Good boy, on your bed.

Okay, yay.

Once you get to that last treat, again,

I can reward him from there.

So, I'm gonna practice this step a few more times

until he's getting the hang of it.

Looks like he is already.

Good boy, Slam.

Now, I'm gonna practice this a few more times

and since he's doing well

what I'm gonna start to do is increase the amount of time

that I wait between treats

so I'm not constantly rewarding quite so much anymore.

He now has to hold position a bit more on his own

in order for me to reward him,

so I have a piece of food ready.

On your bed.

Get it, good, lie down.

Yes, good boy.

On your bed.

Good boy, yes.

Good on your bed.

Good boy, yes.

Now while I'm doing this,

I'm talking to him and helping him out

with my voice, that's something that I can always do,

yes, at a distance.

Good boy, good on your bed.

Very nice, yes.

What I really like about what he's doing

is he's lying in a really relaxed manner.

Now he's excited to get his treats,

yes, and you can see he looks really comfortable,

and that's the kind of position I want from him

when I do this a bit more on his own.

The next thing I'm gonna do is start to

increase the distance that I am away from it,

so he's starting to move a bit more away from the bed.

Now, what I wanna do is be able to leave him on the bed

and walk away and be able to come back to him

without him getting up and doing his own thing.

And I've also realized I'm making this a little harder

because I'm leaving his food bowl down here

not purposely as a distraction,

but we'll see how he works through that.

You ready, buddy?

Okay, on your bed,

lie down.

Yes, good boy.

So, I'm gonna reward him, on your bed,

and I'm gonna walk away

- and come back and reward again.

On your bed.

Good boy, on your bed.

Good.

Yes, good for you.

Good on your bed.

Yes, good boy.

Still feeding low, on your bed.

Good boy, on your bed.

Good job, bud, yes,

good on your bed.

Head down.

Yes, good boy.

You're so cute.

Yes.

Good boy.

Okay.

So, as I was practicing more distance from my dog

I was moving away and I was constantly keeping an eye on him

so even though I was getting further and further from him

I was still really aware of what he was doing.

It's important that I know when he's gotten up from the bed

if he happens to choose to do that.

If you continue talking to your dog

and you build the distance and the duration

very, very gradually, you're going to find that they make

very few mistakes as long as you're helping them out.

Now, hopefully you noticed how much fun Slam

was having during that training exercise.

To him it was just like learning another trick.

To me it's a great exercise that I can use every single day

to control my dog in a really positive manner.

Now, if you enjoyed today's video,

make sure you subscribe to our channel.

We post brand new videos every single week

to help you and your dog build a bond

and have a lot of fun training together.

For now, my name is Kayl McCann.

This is my border collie, Grand Slam,

see you soon.

(upbeat music)