TIP:

Now that your dog knows how to lie down, are you sure he will lie down anywhere? Practice by having him lie down in the bedroom, in the living room, and in the kitchen. Practice in the backyard, and in the front yard. You get the idea. If you are away from home, always have your dog on a leash.

After your dog has learned the command to 'lie down', you can practice it with 'stay'. It's okay to let your dog lie down and stay for 15, 20, or even 30 minutes. Click here to learn how to teach your dog to stay.

It's okay if your dog falls asleep while he's lying down. Once in a while it's helpful when he needs to calm down.

A Fun Game
One way to have fun and practice at the same time is to have your dog lie down while you are walking. Get some treats, put a leash on your dog, and start walking. Suddenly get your dog to lie down, fast, then give a treat. Stand up, do it again. Up, down, up, down - while walking. This isn't easy, but you might give it a try sometime. Remember to stop while the game is still fun.

A Little Piece of Advice
You might want to tell your dog to lie down on his bed. But you could teach him a different command, like "Go to bed." Walk your dog over to his bed, while saying "Go to bed." Then say "Lie down." Always say "Go to bed." and gradually start dropping out the words, "Lie down."

See the video, Lie Down.

Kids Training Puppies in Five Minutes with DVD, by JoAnn Dahan, Cork Hill Press; (February 5, 2004)
From an Amazon.com reader: My name is Christi, I am 7 years old. I just got a new lab puppy from my Mom and Dad her name is Ginny. Before I could have Ginny I had to promised I would care for her and train her. This book is so great, it is very easy to read and the pictures of the lab puppies and kids are so cute. I taught Ginny to sit and lie down really fast. I think every kid with a puppy should have this book. Ages 5-8

Your Puppy, Your Dog, by Pat Storer, Storey Publishing; 1997
From the Back Cover
What a dog needs most is love -- and loving a dog means providing everything it needs to be happy and healthy. With easy-to-follow instructions and plenty of illustrations, this book tells you just how to care for and understand your dog.
Includes: How to select the puppy or dog that is best for you, What and how to feed your dog, How to train and exercise your dog, How to play with your dog or puppy, How to keep your dog in the best of health, Where and how to show your dog, ... Ages 9 and up

Dog Training for Children with Ian Dunbar,
1997 VHS
This video is written and hosted by veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and author Dr. Ian Dunbar — the world's leading authority on dog behavior and training. Dr. Dunbar is the original creator and popularizer of off-leash puppy classes, which sparked the revolution for positive, reward-based, dog-friendly dog training. I have previewed this video and recommend it as an excellent training tool for kids. Jan Wall, author How to Love Your Dog

This video is a little older, but excellent, nonetheless. Ian Dunbar has a wonderful way with the children - clear, gentle, and kind. Easy to watch and understand, kids can be completely successful with this positive method of training. Adapted from the British television program, Dogs With Dunbar. Topics include: Taking on a new puppy. Housetraining. Early leash training. Teaching Sit and Down. Developing a rapport. Focusing attention. Improving off-leash control. Training a fast recall. Training as a family. Family competitions. Improving the Sit Stay. Teaching with toys. Playing training games.