This is a really fun trick to teach. There are many steps involved, so just focus on improving a bit more each session. Eventually you will achieve the final behavior!

This behavior might take a couple sessions, or it could take much longer. I always recommend that you focus on keeping your dog interested each session vs. getting frustrated that he is not learning fast enough.

You can watch a short video that shows Ranger taking a bow to see the final behavior. 

Lets get started. 

Hand Signal
It is important to teach the hand signal before you start using a verbal cue or changing the cue to a different cue. DO NOT say, "Take a bow" at this stage.  

1. Use amazing treats because you want your dog to be really motivated to follow your hand.
   
2. One of the most challenging aspects of this behavior is to teach your dog not to lie down. Especially when working with a dog that has a lot of training, he might see the hand signal, anticipate that you are going to ask him to lie down and lie down automatically.
   
3. Start with your dog in a stand position
4. Slowly move the treat down and towards his tail in between his front legs
5. Before he lies down, say, "Yes" and give a treat
6. If he lies down, say, "Eh! Eh!" (it means wrong answer) and quickly move your hand up and away from your dog
7. Continue working and try and get a bit more of the behavior each time. Move the treat slowly enough (this is called luring) so your dog is licking or smelling the treat at the beginning until it moves below his chest. 
8. Continue moving the treat until he realizes that lying down doesn't work and moving into the "bow" position is what works.
9. To help him understand the differentiation, use verbal praise while you are luring him, "Good, good, keep it up" and say, "Eh! Eh!" and quickly remove the treat if he lies down. 
10. Once you get a good version of the behavior, (watch video here) say, "Yes" and quickly move your hand with the treat in it forward along the floor away from your dog and raise it a bit so he stands up. Then give him the treat when he is standing. 
    
11. That last step is really the "secret" to this trick. Once your dog does the trick, you want him to be motivated to stand instead of lie down. It is really important that you do not reward him when he is lying down.
    
12. If you are feeling frustrated, end on a good note, take a break and try again later

Verbal Cue
Once you establish a very reliable hand signal you can now add the verbal cue.

1. Say, "Take a bow" (or what you would like) ONE TIME
2. Wait just a moment
   
3. Then use the hand signal that you have established above
4. Everything else stays the same, use verbal praise, and "Eh! Eh!" if he lies down
5. Say, "Yes" when you get the behavior
6. Make sure that you move your hand up and away from your dog and reward when he is standing
   
7. Eventually your dog will understand that "Take a bow" means the same thing as the hand signal

Change the Cue To Something Else
You can devise something very creative for the cue instead of the beginning hand signal or the verbal cue, "Take a bow". For instance, one of my clients bends at the waist as if he is doing a bow, and his dog bows back, very cool.

The key for this is that you need to make sure that it is different enough from a cue that you already use, and that your dog is watching you when you show it.  

1. Do the new cue (the cue that you want to use)
2. Wait for a moment
3. "Help" your dog understand what you want him to do by providing one of the other cues you have established, either the original hand signal or verbal cue

Troubleshooting

1. Do short sessions so you or your dog doesn't get bored or frustrated
2. Always end on a good note - meaning the final behavior should be something close to the final behavior
3. Make sure you say, "Yes" to mark the right behavior BEFORE he lies down and then quickly move the treat up and away so he stands
4. Use really good treats
5. Use a lot of verbal praise and enthusiasm

More Questions? Read the Forum Post that started it all, and ask your own questions as well.

Now I want to hear what you have to say. It is so much more fun if you take part in the conversation. If you are not a member, all you need to do is Join.