#232 Polite Public Manners With The Under Cue

Ever wish your dog would tuck quietly under your legs at a café instead of sprawling in the walkway? We break down a simple, reliable “under” cue that turns public outings from stressful to smooth, giving your dog a clear job and you a calmer experience. You’ll hear exactly how to teach it at home, layer in a relaxed down, and merge both skills so one word cues a tidy tuck and a settled stay.

Chapters

• 0:02 Why The Under Cue Matters
• 0:29 From Fidgety To Tucked: A Real Example
• 0:55 Big Dogs Can Do It Too
• 1:15 Step-By-Step: Lure And Mark
• 1:39 Add The Cue And Build Duration
• 2:01 Pair With Down And Merge Cues
• 2:28 Practice In Public Spaces
• 2:45 Pro Tips For Reliability
• 3:06 Benefits And Final Nudge

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:02

When you're sitting at a patio cafe or park bench or even your own kitchen table, wouldn't it be nice if your dog just tucked neatly under your legs instead of sprawling out in the walkway? That's what the undercue is for, and it's one of the most useful behaviors that you can teach for polite public manners. I started teaching scooter under because every time we sat outside somewhere, he was right there in middle of the foot traffic. If I reached over for my coffee, he'd shift. If someone walked by he'd move again. Now when I say under, he slides right beneath my legs and stays tucked in like that. And here's a tip. Even larger dogs can fit under your legs if you sit forward on the edge of the chair. They don't have to fold up like origami, they just need to understand the concept of get underneath my legs, stay calm and wait. So here's how you train it. You're gonna start at home. Sit near the edge of a sturdy chair with a few treats ready. And then lure the dog. Hold a treat near your dog's nose and guide them under your legs or under a table. And when they follow the treat, mark it. Say yes or click and reward. And then add the cue. Once your dog starts following the lore smoothly, say under right before you guide them underneath your legs. And then make them comfortable. Reward several times while they're under your legs so they learn that staying there pays off. Then you're going to add the down cue. After your dog gets the idea of going under, start pairing it with the down cue. Under and then down. And then reward calmly for the settle. And then merge the two. As your dog improves, you'll fade the second word, and under will mean go under and lay down. And then you need to practice in real life. Take it to the patio, to the park, or even a waiting room. The goal is to make under a reflex for any public setting. And here are a couple of tips. Use a mat if your dog likes having a clear boundary. It gives them a target zone under your legs. And if your dog tries to back out, keep it easy, shorter duration, bigger rewards. And then gradually increase distractions so the cue works anywhere. Just remember, under teaches your dog where to be, and that alone can make every public outing calmer, safer, and more enjoyable. And once it's solid, you'll be amazed at how natural it feels to give that single word and watch your dog quietly tuck away. So the next time you're sitting down with your dog beside you, try under instead. It's polite, practical, and gives your dog a job that makes sense.