Why is it sometimes so hard to get little dogs to down?

I never see a problem with the big guys, just the little tykes. There's
usually at least one in every class who takes weeks to get into a down and
doesn't pop back up into a standing position when he's almost down there.

Other than physically manipulating them into the position, do you have any
suggestions for how to coerce these little stinkers into a down? I've tried
luring under an upraised leg, using different surfaces (i.e., a dog bed instead
of the cold floor), using power treats to lure while backing them up against a
wall (they normally skitter backwards also). Some will get it, some won't.

I've yet to have one who wouldn't down at all ever, but one didn't get it until
the last week of class.

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Last updated June 27 at 10:00 a.m.