DOWN FROM THE FRONT

When you both are comfortable with working on stay commands, you may go on to down from the front. Start at the six-foot distance, and use a full sweep of the forearm, keeping the signal open, fingers together, palm down, fingers pointing toward your dog.

Give your signal and wait as before, and in due course if necessary, prefix your third request with no and repeat your commands for the third time.
On your third request, as your signal is coming down, collect your lead with your right hand at the half-length, placing it into your left palm. Keeping your right hand on the length of the lead, control the lead with your right thumb, as you move in to grasp the left front leg with your right hand, being careful not to release the length of the lead. Your left hand will do likewise, keeping the lead folded as you place your left hand on his right front leg, making sure that the collar has no tension on it, but that the lead has no slack.

This is to protect your face while working on placing your dog down. Gently pick up on his front feet, and move them forward. Even if they come forward only a couple of inches, follow through with your stay command, drop the length of your lead as you step all of the way back. In the unlikely event that your dog remains in the down position, you must return to the heel position quickly, so as to avoid the likelihood that he will now break the down -stay command, which would require that you replace him into the down position from the front.

Once you've returned to the heel position, if he should break the down stay command, you may correct him from the side. .