Say Your Prayers

Say Your Prayers: The Short Answer

Say Your Prayers builds in two connected pieces: your dog first learns to rest both front paws on a stable platform, then to lower their head between them on cue. Lure each piece with a treat, mark the moment it lands, then fade the lure into the word "pray." Skip a bare forearm as the platform for young kids or an unsteady adult.

The Mechanics Behind Say Your Prayers

Say Your Prayers chains together two pieces your dog may already know from somewhere else: placing a paw exactly where you ask it to go, the same offer Shake is built on, and driving the nose toward a target held low and close, the mechanic behind Touch. Bow asks for a version of that same front-end drop with all four feet still on the floor. Here the paws land on a platform instead of your open hand, and the head comes down only once both are already planted, not before.

A treat pulled up and toward the platform gets the first paw moving; a second treat, offered the same way, brings the other paw up beside it. Once both paws are resting on the platform, a fresh treat drawn down and back between them pulls your dog's head down to follow, and the exact instant it lands between the paws is what earns the mark. The cue replaces the lure only after that full sequence, paw, paw, bow, happens reliably without one.

The learning underneath

Through repeated pairing, a crisp "Yes!" from the Reward Marker (Yes!) skill becomes a conditioned predictor of food. Classical conditioning gives the marker meaning, and operant learning makes the marked head dip more likely.

Choosing a platform

Platform	Best for	Check first
Rubber-footed step stool	Small and medium dogs	No rocking when you press a corner
Heavy ottoman or low bench	Medium and large dogs	Firm top, no casters
Low non-slip outdoor platform	Shaded outdoor practice	Cool to your palm on both platform and ground
Adult's sleeved forearm or bent knee	Finished trick, steady adults only	Never kids, bare skin or anyone unsteady

Why It Matters: Say Your Prayers and Your Household

Most dogs pick up the first half of this trick fast: two paws going up onto something is close to what an excited dog already wants to do anyway, so the early reps often feel like the fastest progress your dog makes all week. That momentum usually stalls right at the head-bow. Lowering the head between the paws asks a dog to look away from your face and hold a lower, more exposed posture, a different request than "put your paws here," and plenty of Pet Parents mistake the slowdown for a stall in training instead of the harder half of the same trick.

Naming that shift matters because it changes what you reward. A dog offered a cued platform-touch instead of a free jump has an outlet for the same paws-up impulse that used to land on a guest's shirt, and a household that keeps working through the head-bow plateau ends up with a trick that replaces an unwanted habit instead of stacking a new cue on top of it.

Before You Start Teaching Say Your Prayers

• Trim or file your dog's nails first. Paws land on skin, fabric, or bare arm on every rep, and a long nail turns a normal rep into a scratch.
• Choose the platform on purpose. A bent knee or forearm works for a steady adult, but a low stool, an ottoman, or a folded towel on a chair keeps young children and less steady adults out from under a dog's direct weight and claws.
• Check with a veterinarian first if your dog is very young, a senior, or has a known front-leg, wrist, or shoulder issue. Weight-bearing on the front end, held for even a few seconds, is real load on those joints.
• Watch for stress signals, not just slow progress: stiffening, lip licking, or turning the head away instead of lowering it means back off, not push through.
• Agree on one rule as a household: paws-up and the bow only earn a reward after the cue, never for a dog who climbs onto the platform uninvited.

How Partners Dog Training Teaches Say Your Prayers

We match our methods to the dog in front of us (see Our Methodology).

Corrections climb a ladder: a calm verbal correction first, then the leash, then the collar, only when needed. If verbal works, stop there, and never exaggerate a correction; then redirect into a known behavior and reward it. Teaching a trick uses the verbal rung only when a dog barges onto a person for an uncued jump, followed immediately by redirecting into a known sit. A missed head dip, a step not yet understood, or worry about lowering the head is redirect-only: lower the difficulty, redirect and reward. Rewards can be exaggerated, and the first full prayer on the word alone deserves having a party.

Teaching

Put your dog in a Sit facing the platform you settled on in Before You Begin. Hold a treat at the platform's edge and let your dog follow it up with one paw; mark and reward that paw the instant it lands, then reset and repeat until one paw goes up smoothly. Bring the second paw up the same way, marking and rewarding it separately before you ever ask for both together. Once both paws rest on the platform without a fight to get there, bring a fresh treat down and back between them, lowering it slowly enough that your dog's head follows the treat rather than lifting away, and mark the instant their head dips between their own paws. Run the full sequence, paw, paw, bow, enough times that it starts happening without you steering each piece by hand.

Reinforcing

Once your dog is bowing on close to every rep without much help from the lure, say the cue out loud at the point where you'd otherwise have started luring, then let the word lead and the lure follow instead of the other way around. A short one-word cue like "pray" is easier for a dog to pick out of a sentence than the full trick name, and any word does the job as long as every person in the house says the same one. Pay any bow that lands after the word. Delay the treat by half a second longer on each successful rep, until "pray" alone is clearly what's starting the sequence, not the sight of the treat.

Proofing

Move the sequence to a different room next, then introduce a single new distraction per rep: a person walking by, a toy sitting nearby, a burst of background noise. A slower or shakier bow next to a live distraction earns the same reward as a clean one; the goal at this stage is holding the sequence together under pressure, not perfect form.

Maintenance

Say Your Prayers doesn't need a daily rep to stay solid. Fold it into whatever training session is already happening, keep watching for the stress signals covered earlier in Before You Begin, and stay firm on the household rule: paws-up only earns a reward after the cue, never for a dog offering it on their own to a stranger at the door.

Progression at a glance

Stage	What you ask	Move on when
One paw	First paw up, lured	Lands smoothly on most tries without scrambling
Two paws	Both paws, each marked	Both settle without climbing
Head dip	Any downward movement	Dips readily as the lure lowers
Cue leads	"Pray," then hand	Starts before the hand moves

What this looks like at home

Hazel, a standard poodle in Scottsdale, learned paws-up in one evening but kept her chin high whenever the treat moved downward. Her Pet Parent stopped leaning over her, switched to a wider stool, and marked each small chin dip before asking for the full bow. Within a few short sessions, Hazel could lower her head without shifting either paw.

Handling Say Your Prayers Problems in the Moment

• Your dog puts paws up but won't lower their head: The treat is probably moving too fast or too far from their nose. Slow it down and keep it closer to the platform, rewarding any downward head movement before asking for the full bow.
• Your dog's paws slide off the platform mid-bow: The surface may be too narrow, too slick, or too high for your dog's size. Switch to something wider, lower, and non-slip before continuing.
• Your dog jumps at the platform instead of stepping up calmly: Back up to rewarding a calmer approach, a few steps of paws-on-floor first, before letting them go for the platform again.

Troubleshooting

Your dog refuses to put weight on one particular paw. That is not stubbornness; it may be a physical issue. Stop the rep and check with a veterinarian before more paw-lifting work.

Your dog bows on the platform but not on a lower surface like your knee. Different surfaces feel different under a dog's paws; treat the new surface as a fresh rep zero, not a review.

Your dog offers the whole sequence unprompted, with no cue given. That's a cue discrimination gap, not eagerness worth rewarding. Withhold the reward, reset, and pay only the version that follows the actual word.

Why a head-bow stalls, ranked from most to least common:

1. Lure path pulled too fast or too far under the chest.
2. Platform wobbles, slides or sits too high for clean front-end balance.
3. Arousal still high from the paws-up step, leaving the dog too bouncy to hold still.
4. Handler leaning directly over the dog's head, creating spatial pressure.
5. Undetected wrist, elbow, neck or shoulder discomfort.

Looks like	Might actually be	How to tell
Stubborn refusal	Lure or platform problem	Head follows once you slow down or swap platforms
Stuck plateau	The normal harder half	Dog stays loose and keeps re-engaging
Ignoring the lure	Stress or avoidance	Lip licks, stiffening, turning away (redirect-only)
Same paw avoided again in the same brief check	Possible pain	Stop paw-lifting work and contact your veterinarian before another session

Say Your Prayers Practice Plan

Run five or six reps a couple times through the week, calling it done the moment a bow starts looking sloppy, not after squeezing in one more clean rep. Hold at the platform you started on until both pieces, paws-up and head-down, feel automatic, then introduce a second platform option so the cue isn't tied to one specific object. Shake pairs well into the same short session; it asks for a single paw instead of two, giving your dog an easy trick to close on.

Say Your Prayers Coaching Tips for Pet Parents

Pay the bow that lands after you say the word, even a slow, careful one, over a fast version your dog offers before being asked. End the session on your own read of your dog's energy, not a rep count set in advance. Every person practicing this trick should use the identical cue and hand motion, since a dog hearing two versions of one request is solving two puzzles instead of one. A new platform or a new room is one more rep in a longer pattern, not a fresh test your dog has to pass from scratch.

When to Get Professional Help with Say Your Prayers

Most stalls here are solvable at home: a treat pulled too quickly, a platform sized wrong for your dog, or reps pushed past what your dog had patience for that day. A short list of signals is worth checking against your own safety before you keep practicing solo.

Mild: your dog's nails catch your skin lightly on an occasional rep. Trim the nails, add a layer of clothing over the platform area, or switch to a stool or cushion instead of your own arm or leg.

Moderate: your dog leans full body weight onto the platform, enough to unsteady a small child or an adult with limited balance, or paws hard enough to leave marks on bare skin most sessions. A private-lesson session gives a trainer's hands direct access to the exact paw placement and platform choice, correcting the mechanics before anyone gets hurt.

Severe: your dog's paws break skin, or your dog stiffens, growls, or snaps when a hand comes near their face during the head-bow. Stop the trick entirely and get a professional evaluation before any more paws-up practice; this has crossed from a training question into a safety one.

Some dogs land both pieces, paws-up and head-down, within a handful of sessions. Others need a steadier platform, a slower lure, or a second pair of eyes confirming exactly where those front paws are landing before the trick is safe to bring home. That's the point where we step in. Start with a PD360 Assessment ($199 first dog, $149 second dog), and it decides which program fits, usually Private Lessons for hands-on paw placement and timing. Group Classes are only for non-reactive dogs.

Questions Pet Parents Ask Us About Say Your Prayers

Our grandkids visit every winter. How do we involve them safely?

Give the children the verbal cue, not the physical platform. Have a child say "pray" from the sofa while an adult kneels beside a heavy step stool to handle the lure and reward placement. Once the bow is reliable, the child can toss a bonus treat onto the rug after the marker word, keeping small fingers away from descending paws and excited mouths.

My husband and I both practice, but she only bows for me. Is it my fault?

Nobody is at fault; your dog is reading two slightly different physical pictures. Have one person film a few reps of the other so you can compare body posture, lure speed and where the treat stops between the elbows. Agree on one exact hand path and kneeling position, then let the person she stalls with run the next couple of short sessions solo.

Since learning paws-up, he puts his feet on guests on the couch. Did we make jumping worse?

You may see a temporary increase because dogs often try a newly rewarded movement in other places, which does not mean the trick permanently caused jumping. Ask guests to stand up and turn away the instant paws leave the floor, use the verbal rung from the ladder above, and redirect him into a known sit he can get paid for. Keeping a clear visual difference between the training stool and sofa cushions closes that gap quickly.

We live in a small apartment with slick tile floors. Can we still teach this?

Yes, as long as your dog's back feet and the platform both have solid traction. Place a long non-slip yoga mat under both the stool and the spot where your dog sits so their hind legs never splay backward during the bow. Pushing the front edge of the stool flush against a wall also keeps the platform from skating forward on the tile.

We prefer a secular cue word. Does changing the name change the training?

Not at all, because your dog only hears an acoustic signal tied to a physical sequence. Many households cue this exact trick with "peekaboo," "bashful," "nap" or "hide," and the luring and marking mechanics stay identical. Pick any crisp one-word cue your whole household enjoys saying and stick with it across every session.

We have two dogs, and the younger one barges in during trick sessions. What helps?

Set up management before you bring out the platform so neither dog practices competing for food. Give the waiting dog a stuffed chew or lick mat inside a crate or behind a baby gate, using the crate purely as a calm manager so you can work one-on-one. After a few reps, swap the dogs so each one learns that waiting calmly predicts their own turn at the stool.

I work long days, so I only have quiet time in the evenings. Is that enough?

Evening sessions work well for Say Your Prayers because this trick benefits from just a few thoughtful reps rather than long drills. Set aside a small handful of your dog's evening kibble or higher-value treats right before dinner and run five clean reps in the living room. Ending right as your dog stays sharp builds muscle memory faster than marathons on the weekend.

Our rescue flinches when hands move toward her face. Should we skip this?

Pause the head-down half for now. Flinching can reflect fear, a painful mouth, neck or ear, or a learned concern about approaching hands. If it is new or persistent, start with your veterinarian, and once pain is ruled out, a trainer can help condition comfortable hand movement below-threshold before you resume the trick; this is redirect-only: lower the difficulty, redirect and reward calm moments.

Say Your Prayers: Facts, Myths and Timelines

How much practice does the head-bow half usually take?

The paws-up half tends to click within a session or two. The head-bow half is typically slower, and there's no dependable day or week count for closing that gap; steady short sessions close it faster than one long session run less often.

The paws land on the platform but the head never drops. Now what?

Slow the treat down and keep it closer to the platform's edge instead of pulling it away too soon. If your dog still won't follow, check the platform itself: an unstable or too-narrow surface makes any dog reluctant to commit their weight forward.

Is Say Your Prayers safe to practice around young children?

It can be, once you've chosen a stable platform instead of a bare arm or leg and trimmed your dog's nails. A young child's arm or lap is not a safe platform for this trick; keep kids as an audience for the finished trick, not as the surface the dog leans on.

What is the difference between Say Your Prayers and Bow?

Bow lowers the whole front end while the back legs stay standing on the floor. Say Your Prayers keeps both front paws elevated on a platform throughout, with only the head dropping down between them, a different balance point and a different physical ask.

At what age can a puppy start learning this trick?

Ask your veterinarian before starting, because holding weight on the front end is real load on young, growing joints. Until your vet gives the go-ahead, build Sit, Touch and Shake on the floor. Once cleared, look for a reliable sit and steady footing on a low platform.

Is this trick suitable for every breed and body type?

Most breeds can learn a version of it when the platform matches their frame. A small dog does well on a rubber-footed step stool, while a large dog needs a heavy ottoman or low bench that will not shift under their weight. Check with your veterinarian first if your dog has any front-leg, wrist, or shoulder concern.

Can senior dogs or dogs with arthritis participate safely?

Check with your veterinarian first, especially if your dog has arthritis or any front-leg, wrist, or shoulder issue. With clearance, some seniors enjoy it on a very low, non-slip platform with brief holds. Stop and call your vet if you see limping or reluctance to bear weight.

Should I use a clicker or a verbal marker word?

Either works cleanly when paired with food first. A clicker gives you a consistent sound, while a verbal marker like "Yes!" keeps both hands free for the lure and treat. Whichever you pick, repeat marker-then-food pairings until it means food is coming, so it can pinpoint the exact moment the head dips.

Can I teach Say Your Prayers without using a food lure?

Yes, if your dog already knows how to follow a hand target or nose target. Use your empty hand the way you would use the treat, mark the instant the paws land or the head dips, then pay from your other hand or a treat pouch. If your dog loses interest, go back to a lure for that piece and try fading it again later.

What prerequisite skills make learning this trick easier?

A steady Sit gives every repetition a calm starting point, and Touch teaches your dog to follow a hand downward without jumping. Sit Pretty is a separate balance trick that builds core and hind-end strength for physically suitable dogs.

Which training program is best if we want help with tricks and manners?

The PD360 Assessment decides which program fits. For tricks and manners that is usually Private Lessons for hands-on coaching, DaySchool for daily practice or Foundation Camp for manners and obedience, and Behavior Camp only when fear, anxiety, reactivity or guarding is part of the picture. Group Classes are a great proofing option only for dogs who are not reactive and already have safe basic mechanics.

Why does my dog paw at my hand instead of dipping their head?

Shake fans keep offering paws because that paid well before, so the paw comes out before the head-bow is understood. Keep the lure low and close to the platform, stop rewarding paw-at-hand, and mark only a downward head movement once both paws are on the platform. If the pawing continues, lower the difficulty and redirect into a known behavior your dog can be paid for.

Bringing It Together: Your Say Your Prayers Roadmap

This week:

1. Trim your dog's nails and test one wide, non-slip platform so it does not wobble when pressed.
2. Teach one paw, then the second, marking and rewarding each separately in short sessions, and stop when form gets sloppy.
3. Lure the head dip slowly between the paws only after both settle, then add the word "pray" once the sequence is smooth.

Success markers: both paws up without scrambling, a willing chin dip, and zero scratches.

When to call us: pause practice and reach out if your dog leans full weight hard enough to unsteady someone, leaves nail marks most sessions, avoids loading one paw, or stiffens and snaps when a hand nears their face. Any limping or reluctance to bear weight goes to your veterinarian first; for training and safety evaluations, start with a PD360 Assessment, where we can route you to Behavior Camp, Day School, Private Lessons, or Group Classes (for non-reactive dogs).

Our team at our Scottsdale location and in Cave Creek is ready to help at 480-595-6700 or Enroll@PartnersDogs.com.

Related Articles for Say Your Prayers

• Touch: the nose-to-target skill the head-lower half of this trick borrows from.
• Bow: the sibling front-end-lowering trick, minus the elevated platform.
• Shake: the single-paw version of the same place-your-paw ask, worth pairing into the same short session.
• Sit: the starting position every rep of this trick begins from.
• Reward Marker (Yes!): the marker mechanic behind every paw-up and every bow in this trick.
• Sit Pretty: a separate balance trick for physically suitable dogs, best taught only after veterinary clearance when orthopedic concerns exist.