[tenderfoot]

From a down to a sit.

You can sit on the floor and ask your dog to down(on leash) next to you, then as you get up you give a hand signal and say 'up' in an energized tone and your dog will either rise up with you naturally (like begets like) or you can give a slight 'dink' on the collar to encourage him to get up and just as he rises up to a sit - you say "good job" and get calm. If he goes to stand up then you used too much energy.