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Watch our video and read our step by step guide on teaching your dog to sit.
Teaching your dog to sit is a great behaviour to train your dog and can be the basis of other behaviour training. It helps with teaching good manners and is useful for keeping your dog under control. Here's a step by step guide on teaching your dog to sit. View the audio transcript for this video Step oneHold a small, smelly treat in your hand and let your dog put his nose to it. Whilst they’re sniffing the treat, raise your hand up a little and over their head, towards their back. This movement encourages them to look up and put their rear end on the floor. Praise them and reward with the treat as soon as your dog is in a sitting position. Step twoRepeat step one until your dog is readily going into a sit by following the treat lure. Step threeRepeat as above, luring your dog with one hand, but now reward them with a treat from your other hand. Step fourNow it’s time to take away the food lure and instead introduce a hand signal and voice cue. Say “sit” and raise your palm to your shoulder. If your dog sits, praise and reward. If they don’t sit, repeat the hand signal. Return to steps one and two if your dog needs a bit more practice sitting. Step fiveOnce your dog has mastered the hand signal with voice cue, you can train them him to respond just to the voice cue. Say “sit”, wait three seconds and then give the hand signal, praise and reward your dog when they sit. Repeat this, each time increasing the number of seconds between the voice cue and the hand signal. Step sixNow your dog understands how to sit on cue, start to phase out the treat reward (but not the praise). Treat only the faster sits whilst still acknowledging the slower sits with praise. This should result in your dog sitting as soon as you ask them to. Once your dog can sit reliably when asked, you can vary reinforcement and give treats every now and then. If the environment is distracting continue to reward frequently. Practice asking for this position in lots of different locations, a “sit” cue can be used in all elements of you dogs daily routine. Download these six steps as a handy advice sheet and use it as a reminder to train regularly: Advice sheet
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The first few days with your puppy is sure to be filled with cuddles, play time and pats, but it’s important to also focus on training. Using positive methods will not only establish a love of training but will also develop a strong bond between you and your puppy. Here are some easy steps to teach your puppy to sit, stay and come. To learn even more basic commands, enrol your puppy in your nearest Petbarn puppy school where a qualified trainer will take you both through all the fundamentals including toilet training and walking on a lead. How to teach a puppy to sitThis is one of the easiest commands you can teach your puppy and mastering this cue means you’ll be well on your way to a great relationship with your pet! Soon your puppy will learn that sitting is like saying ‘please’ which is a great behaviour that you want to encourage. Step 1. Hold a treat over your puppy’s nose and slowly move it above their head. How to teach a puppy to stayOnce you and your puppy have mastered ‘sit’, it’s best to tackle this cue next. ‘Stay’ is a useful command when you want your puppy to hold their position and not run off. Step 1. Use a light, long lead and ask your puppy to sit. How to teach a puppy to comeThis basic cue is one of the most important to master and one that your puppy should know before you let them off leash outside. Step 1. Hold your puppy’s lead and keep them on a long lead, letting them wander around as they please. Step 3. Focus on your intonation and make the word “come” sound more interesting than anything else in your puppy’s environment. It’s a good idea to play games with your puppy that involve the ‘come’ cue to keep them excited about returning to you when called.
An essential part of raising a solid canine citizen is basic dog training, and we’d argue that knowing how to teach a dog to sit is one of the most important “tricks” out there. Not only does teaching your dog the sit command lay the foundation for ongoing dog training, but it also curbs your pup’s impulses and keeps them out of harm’s way. In that sense, it gives you both a little more freedom and flexibility in your day-to-day lives. For example, you can have your dog sit on cue when company’s over, when you’re running inside a convenience store for a quick errand while your dog is on-leash, or when your pup is rambunctious and could benefit from calming down. For the ins and outs on teaching a dog to sit—including how to teach a puppy to sit—read on! You Will Need✓A quiet space ✓Training treats for dogs, like True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts with Real Chicken Dog Treats ✓15 to 20 minutes per day ✓Patience ✓Enthusiasm How to Teach a Dog to SitTeaching your dog the sit command is easier than you might think. It just takes patience and consistency. Depending on your dog or puppy’s attention span and interest in training, these training sessions can be either once a day or broken up throughout the day into multiple sessions. Here’s our experts’ recommended steps for teaching a dog to sit. Step 1: Hold a treat in your hand.Put a treat into your hand and move it in front of your dog or puppy’s mouth and nose until you get their attention. Let them sniff and nibble. Step 2: Move the treat above the dog’s head and say the word “sit.”Once your dog is focused, slowly move the treat up and slightly behind their head. (Aim for about three inches above them.) This should cause your puppy to move backward before eventually sitting. By moving the treat only about three inches up, it’s still obtainable and desired. And, since you’re moving it up, your dog will naturally look up, which puts their butt down on the ground. If this doesn’t work, try taking a step closer to your dog so you’re positioned above them and they have to look up even higher. This tends to naturally lead to a sitting position. Step 3: Once in a sit, praise your dog!As soon as your dog’s bottom touches the floor, happily say “Good sit!” and then reward your dog with a treat to let them know that this was the correct behavior. By saying “good sit,” your dog will continue to hear the word “sit” and better associate it with the action that just happened. Step 4: Repeat this process.You should do about 10 to 15 repetitions of this in a calm and comfortable area where your dog can focus and learn. Count out your dog training treats beforehand so you can keep track of how many repetitions you have done. Pro Tip: Dogs learn through pairing a cue—such as a verbal word, a click from a training clicker, or a hand signal—with a reward, so you’ll need to repeat this many times before they really understand that the word sit equals the known position. Things to AvoidWhether you’re learning how to teach a puppy to sit or working with an adorable senior pup, you’ll need to practice patience and enthusiasm.
How to Teach a Dog to Sit: FAQsQ: Can I teach my dog to sit without treats? A:Yes, it’s entirely possible to teach your dog the sit command without treats. Instead of treats, you’ll need an object that has value to your dog, such as a toy or your very own enthusiasm. Just like people, dogs are individuals and can be motivated by a variety of things, so it’s important to identify what your dog values most. That said, many dogs are very food motivated, so you might find your training sessions are easier with a tasty treat in your hand. Q: Can I teach a senior dog to sit? A:You can absolutely teach an old dog new tricks, and that includes teaching them to sit! However, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind when teaching your senior dog the word sit. First, make sure your pup’s training sessions are comfortable if they have arthritis or other types of pains. A comfy bed, such as Frisco Orthopedic Pillow Cat & Dog Bed, is helpful. Second, if your senior dog has hearing issues, swap in a hand signal for the word sit. Whatever the variables, using repetition and consistency every day—and giving your senior dog lots of praise and rewards—will help them pick up the dog sit command in no time. Q: How can I teach a dog to sit from the “down” position? A:Start by watching your dog and letting them move to the sit position from the down position on their own. Once they do, reward your dog with a treat or praise. After a week or two of doing this, you can add the word “sit” as they move up to a sitting position. Another way to teach your dog how to sit from the down position is to use a treat to lure them into an upright sitting position. Say the word “sit” as they move up, and make sure to reward them when they do. Remember, the goal is to associate a treat or reward with the cue itself. Working with your pup on obedience training not only helps them to develop good manners, but it’s also an important part of building trust between you and your Best Furry Friend—and that helps strengthen your BFF bond. Keep it fun! Incorporating play goes a long way in building a solid and productive relationship with your pet. Expert input provided by certified dog trainer Nicole Edwards of Canine Cultivation in Denver, Colorado, and Paula Nowak, owner, head trainer and behavior consultant for Canine Country Academy in Georgia. |