Training Your Dog - SIT

There’s a reason that sitting is one of the first behaviors people teach their dogs. Sitting makes it almost impossible for your dog to jump up on visitors, bowl you over, plow through the door ahead of you, jump out of the car, and generally be rude and out of control. Besides, who can resist a dog who is sitting as though saying “Please?”

Any healthy dog can sit, although some breeds are more comfortable sitting that others. Greyhounds, for example, have such muscular thighs that they don't often choose to sit. They can, however, sit if requested, and even sit and stay for several minutes. Some dogs with arthritis or other hip or knee problems may have difficulty sitting. If you suspect such a problem with your dog, get your veterinarian's opinion before asking your dog to sit.

The traditional training method for sitting was to pull up on your dog's leash while pushing down on his rear. Too often this method caused the dog to resist, and the whole experience was unpleasant for dog and trainer. Now the suggested method is to lure your dog into a sitting position using a treat, as follows:

1. With your dog standing, hold a treat just above and behind the level of his eyes. If he bends his knees and points his nose up, say "Good!" and reward him. If instead he walks backward, try again, this time with his rear end a few inches from a corner to prevent him from backing up. If he jumps up, close your hand around the treat, or place your other hand on his back to prevent him from jumping.
2. Repeat this several times, each time moving the treat further back, until finally your dog is bending his knees so much that he is sitting. You can even cheat a little by tapping on his rear, but don't get into a battle of the wills. He'll do better if he thinks the whole thing is his idea, rather than being forced into it.
3. Next, repeat but using only your hand without a treat to guide him. When he sits, say "Good!" and give him a treat from your other hand.
4. Gradually abbreviate your hand movements until you are only using a small hand signal.
5. When he is sitting reliably add a verbal cue, “Sit!” right before the hand signal. The verbal signal will come to predict the hand signal, and he will soon learn to sit to either.

In most cases, you'll be asking your dog to sit when he's standing. But you can also teach him to sit from a down position. Again, it requires luring him with a treat. Show him the treat above his head and lure him up and slightly back. Place your hand on his rear to prevent him from jumping all the way up. If he already knows the Sit command, you can use it right from the start.

Your dog can learn to volunteer to sit as a means of saying “Please.” Wait until you have something your dog wants, such as a treat, and wait for him to sit. Quickly say "You're welcome," (or whatever you wish to use) and reward him with whatever he wanted. After he has learned to sit for a treat he wants, generalize it to other rewards. Does he want to play ball? Rather than dropping a soggy ball in your lap he can hold it while sitting. Does he want to go out? Rather than hurling himself at the door he can sit politely in front of it. He will soon learn that sitting is the magic position.