Obedience Behaviors:

Training the Sit

This is one of the most basic behaviors, as well as one of the most useful. It can be used as an alternative behavior when training your dog not to jump up or beg. It can keep your dog out of trouble or make leash-walking easier. It's also one of the first behaviors most people train, which causes your dog to default to the sit when he's unsure of a situation.

Preparation: Make sure you have your clicker (or verbal marker) and treats on hand. If you have properly "charged" your clicker, your dog will probably be glued to you trying to get that clicker to "click" - there's no need to put your dog on a leash if you're in your home.

Step One: Put a treat in your fingers; let your dog have a good view of it, then close your hand into a fist with the treat inside. Hold your fist in front of your dog's nose for a second or two, allowing him to sniff it, and then slowly move your fist forward over your dog's head and toward his tail. Be sure to keep your fist close to his nose, or he may jump up to try to get at the treat. If his nose stops following the treat, start over.

Step Two: Generally, dogs will put their rear ends on the ground in order to keep their nose following the treat. As soon as your dog's bottom hits the ground, click and treat. Don't worry if the sit is a little sloppy - you can make it neater later. Continue luring your dog into a sit 20-30 times.

Step Three: Stand still, hands behind your back, and watch your dog. He will likely offer a sit in hopes of getting a treat (if not, repeat Step Two). As he does, add your cue (verbal and hand signal), then click/treat when his rear hits the floor. Remember, don't use the cue before he starts - make sure he's already in the process of sitting when you start using the cue. Repeat 20-30 times.

Step Four: Keep your treats out of sight but close at hand (such as on a countertop nearby), then ask for a sit from your dog using both a verbal and a hand signal (I use a fist, as it follows naturally). If he does it on command, click/treat. If not, he does not yet understand the word and you should practice Steps Three and Four a while longer. Don't punish him - he won't understand.

Fading the Treats: Practice the sit throughout the day and alternate whether you give him a treat or just praise. Start out with lots of treats for the first week, then just slightly fewer, then slightly fewer. If he loses interest, you've decreased the treats too quickly. A good rule is to set aside the same number of treats as commands you'll give that day. Decrease the number of treats by one every week while giving the cue the same number of times. This will be slow enough that your pet won't notice the decrease and will be hoping that his next sit will earn him a reward. In addition, add other rewards for the behavior, including going outside, going on a walk, getting dinner, getting petted, or greeting another person or animal.

Tips:

  1. Does your dog keep backing up when you lure the sit? Try cupping your hand behind him. Don't push, just let him back into your hand and he will likely curve down into a sit.
  2. Shaping is a method which may be helpful if your dog refuses to complete the sit. Reward him for the partial sit until he's sure that's what you want. Then stop rewarding him and wait for him to sit slightly lower. Reward him for a slightly lower (but still imperfect) sit. Continue doing this until he gets his bottom all the way down. If he gives up and tries something else, or walks away, you're pushing him too hard and need to back up a step.
  3. An alternative method you can try is capturing. Although it takes slightly longer, it can be helpful if nothing seems to work. All dogs sit. Keep your clicker on hand and your treats nearby and watch your dog. When he sits of his own accord, click/treat. Soon he'll figure it out and start throwing sits at you.
  4. Don't forget to fade out the treats or you'll end up with a dog who only obeys when you have treats in your hand.
  5. Don't expect your dog to remember how to sit when in an unfamiliar or exciting environment. You may have to retrain the sit when you're on a walk, at a pet store, at the dog park, or even in your own yard or other rooms of the house. Have patience and use the steps above anytime your dog is not responding in a different environment.
  6. More questions? Contact.

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