Training Your Dog
to Sit on Command
Teaching your dog to sit is also one of the easiest for him to learn. As it’s usually the fist action you teach it, you will find it both enjoyable and rewarding.
Watching your dog doing as you ask for the first time is something you will remember for years. There are more difficult tricks he can learn in time, but this simple action is something special. The better your dog does at this simple command, stay, down etc. the easier it will be for you to teach him the more complicated tricks. But to do this you must be patient showing kindness and reward; and never use punishment as this takes away all the good work you have both done.
Take your dog to somewhere, either in or outdoors with no distractions. If he won’t stay still initially, attach a lead to his collar and the other end to fixture in the ground. Show him you have his favourite treat in your hand. Put it right up close to his nose and lift you hand up and forward. His reaction to this will be his head moving upwards and his bottom to go down.As soon as this happens click and reward...Remember, CCT! Command, Click and Treat.. When you lift your hand up and forward, if you dog starts to walk backwards, try doing this action with his back to wall. When he can’t walk back any further, he will sit for you.
Repeat this process a few times using the click and verbally and physically rewarding him each time. If he doesn’t stay there for long, don’t worry; remember this is not the stay command; that will come later. When praising him, say something like well done or good dog, as saying his name can be a little confusing for him and may cause him to think that you are calling him to go with you. This can distract him from the training. Once you’ve repeated these actions enough times that your dog does this action on command you can start removing the treat and naming the command. Repeat the above process, this time without the food lure in your hand. Do exactly the same actions, and if he does as he's asked, click and reward him with the treat. If he doesn’t, repeat the whole process for about 6 – 10 times. Once your dog is reliably doing it without the food lure repeat the process, only this time, immediately before his bottom touches the floor say the word sit. You may like to emphasis the word as S-s-i-t or S-i-T-T for maximum effect.
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