Basic Dog Obedience - Train Your Dog to Sit in 3 Easy Steps
Why should I train my dog to sit? Teaching the sit command is a great way to start obedience training because it forms the basis of other commands, like come and stay.
This command can be used to maintain control of your dog and ensures it understands you are the boss.
For example, you can use the sit command to stop your dog from rushing through doorways ahead of you, because as pack leader you should always walk through doorways before your dog.
The sit command in 3 easy steps 1.
Make sure your dog is standing.
With your right hand slowly and gently push a small treat towards the dog's mouth.
This compels the dog backwards into a sitting position.
2.
As the dog sits, say 'sit' and allow it to eat the treat from your hand.
(Do not say 'sit' until its bum touches the ground - in this way it will learn to associate the instruction with the actual task).
3.
Use verbal praise and affection as a reward.
Troubleshooting Here are some quick fixes to common problems associated with training your dog to sit: "my dog refuses to sit" - Place your left hand on your dog's lower back (just above its tail), gently push down and ever so slightly rock the dog sideways as this will destabilise its hind legs.
"my dog walks backwards when I gently push the treat towards its mouth" - Lift the treat to the dog's nose level and continue to gently push the treat forward.
This will compel the dog to lift its mouth and drop its bum to the ground.
"my dog won't sit unless I have a treat in my hand" - You can use treats often during the initial training, then slowly phase them out.
In this way, the dog does not come to expect a treat every time it sits.
Also, you can correct the dog with a growl or 'no' if it does not do as instructed.
(Only do this if the dog has already shown you that it knows what 'sit' means).
"my dog refuses to stand still" - Use a lead so it cannot wander off during a training session.
Bonus Always ensure you use hand signals with verbal commands during training sessions.
For a clear demonstration of a good hand signal to use with the sit command, you are welcome to watch my YouTube video at http://www.
youtube.
com/watch?v=pNHUelFwYPo.
Good luck with training your dog to sit!
This command can be used to maintain control of your dog and ensures it understands you are the boss.
For example, you can use the sit command to stop your dog from rushing through doorways ahead of you, because as pack leader you should always walk through doorways before your dog.
The sit command in 3 easy steps 1.
Make sure your dog is standing.
With your right hand slowly and gently push a small treat towards the dog's mouth.
This compels the dog backwards into a sitting position.
2.
As the dog sits, say 'sit' and allow it to eat the treat from your hand.
(Do not say 'sit' until its bum touches the ground - in this way it will learn to associate the instruction with the actual task).
3.
Use verbal praise and affection as a reward.
Troubleshooting Here are some quick fixes to common problems associated with training your dog to sit: "my dog refuses to sit" - Place your left hand on your dog's lower back (just above its tail), gently push down and ever so slightly rock the dog sideways as this will destabilise its hind legs.
"my dog walks backwards when I gently push the treat towards its mouth" - Lift the treat to the dog's nose level and continue to gently push the treat forward.
This will compel the dog to lift its mouth and drop its bum to the ground.
"my dog won't sit unless I have a treat in my hand" - You can use treats often during the initial training, then slowly phase them out.
In this way, the dog does not come to expect a treat every time it sits.
Also, you can correct the dog with a growl or 'no' if it does not do as instructed.
(Only do this if the dog has already shown you that it knows what 'sit' means).
"my dog refuses to stand still" - Use a lead so it cannot wander off during a training session.
Bonus Always ensure you use hand signals with verbal commands during training sessions.
For a clear demonstration of a good hand signal to use with the sit command, you are welcome to watch my YouTube video at http://www.
youtube.
com/watch?v=pNHUelFwYPo.
Good luck with training your dog to sit!
