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When gundog training, do you teach them to lie down?

Do you teach your gundogs to lie down at all? Is this a necessary command in your opinion?

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Time Well Spent
Time Well Spent July 29, 2011

Gundog training
PETER BLATCH
I do not teach my dogs to lie down because it compromises their ability to mark a fallen bird accurately.

By all means teach a dog to lie down to command if you think it’s going to improve its steadiness, but I can’t really see the point as a dog will assume that position anyway after it has been sitting still for any length of time.

The best reason I’ve heard for having a dog lie down to command is when you’re in the village pub and you don’t want it to be causing a nuisance to drinkers; in situations like this it’s useful if the dog tucks itself under a table or bench and lies down immediately.

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