Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
IN puppy school, they were pretty firm about only giving the command once. I'm not sure of the rationale, however.
Another good technique is to incorporate hand signals as well as voice commands. So "Lay" or "Down" would be your hand flat in front of you, palm down, with a downward motion.
I always looked at it that the rationale is that the command is SIT "sit, sit, sit sit" so the dog thinks it's the 4th's command to respond to, lol


Most of the time he does do it the first time I ask. I was outside, and I was pleased he even did it with the "evil kitty from next door" on stand by. 
lol