Teaching a dog to sit on command is one of the simplest behaviors you can teach, and it’s often the first basic command in dog training.
Sitting can be useful in various situations but also marks the beginning of establishing a hierarchy between the owner and the dog. You gain their attention when a dog learns to sit on command, making future training easier.
Specific methods are more effective for puppies, while others are suitable for larger, less active dogs.
Creating a Training Environment
Start Training Slowly: Dogs, especially puppies, have a short attention span and are easily distracted. Keep this in mind and start training slowly. Allow your dog frequent breaks to help them stay focused during training.
Choose a Suitable Environment: The training environment should be comfortable for your dog and free from distractions.
- A room indoors can be ideal as it allows better control over your dog’s activity level and helps them stay focused.
- Make sure to inform everyone in your household about the training session to avoid distractions that could interfere with training.
Avoid Outdoor Training if Possible: Outdoor training environments can be harder to control and more distracting. Training outdoors also limits your ability to control the training area and maintain your dog’s focus.
If you must train outdoors, ensure a secure area to prevent your dog from running off or use a leash to maintain control. This can significantly impact the effectiveness of your training and make it more challenging.
Read Your Dog’s Emotions: If your dog starts a training session eagerly, following commands and participating actively, but later becomes disinterested or stops training, they may be overwhelmed. Look for a less distracting environment or reduce the training time (e.g., 5 minutes instead of 10 minutes).
Using Rewards
Use Small Treats: Since you’ll need to reward your dog frequently during training, opt for small treats. You can also use healthy human food suitable for dogs, such as apple slices, carrots, green beans, or small pieces of chicken. If your dog is overweight, consider lower-calorie or diet-friendly options.
Keep Treats Safe: Regularly check that the food you use as a reward is safe for your dog. Some human foods like grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions, or avocados can be toxic to dogs.
Capture Your Dog’s Attention
Face Your Dog: When teaching any command, the first step is getting your dog’s attention. The best way to do this is by facing your dog, allowing them to focus entirely on you and see and hear you.
Show the Reward: Hold the treat near your dog’s nose without letting them snatch it. This will pique their curiosity and help you gain their attention.
Move the Reward Up: Gradually move the reward upward so your dog follows it with their eyes and nose. This often results in them sitting down.
Say “Sit” When Your Dog Sits: When your dog’s rear end touches the ground, firmly say “Sit” in a consistent tone and immediately reward them.
Minimize Verbal Commands: Avoid excessive verbal commands. If your dog doesn’t sit immediately, don’t repeat the command. Limiting verbal cues during commands makes it clearer for your dog to understand when to perform the behavior.
Praise Your Dog: Reinforce the reward with praise. Pet your dog and say “Good dog” or “Well done” to let them know they’ve done a good job.
Release Your Dog: Once your dog has learned to sit on command, use phrases like “Okay” or “Free” to release them from sitting.
Repetition and Patience: Repeat the training method for 10 minutes each session. Consistency and patience are key to teaching your dog to sit reliably.
Fading Out the Reward: After a week or two, when your dog reliably sits on command, start reducing the frequency of treats but continue with verbal praise. This way, you can eventually train your dog to sit without the need for treats, leaving only the verbal command “Sit.”
Training your dog to sit on command is a foundational skill that can help establish a strong bond and effective communication between you and your pet. Be patient and consistent in your training; you’ll likely see positive results.
Hand Signal Training
Apply this method with difficult-to-train dogs
This method helps you have better control over the dog you’re training and is suitable for more energetic dogs. The key to training difficult dogs is continuous control using a leash and harness while reinforcing positive behaviors. Negative behaviors during training should be ignored, as reacting to them would reinforce them.
Attach a Leash
You need to have the dog’s attention and keep the dog seated during training. Using a leash will help you achieve this and keep the dog close to you. If you don’t want to use a leash, you can still apply this method as long as the dog remains near you.
- Hold the leash firmly to keep the dog close to you but not so tight that it makes the dog uncomfortable.
- You may need to try different harnesses or collars to find the one that works best for training. A head halter or a chest harness instead of a back harness can provide better control over the dog’s movements and behaviors.
Stand Next to the Dog and Encourage Sitting
You will help the dog transition from standing to sitting by gently pressing on the dog’s hindquarters. At first, it may be confusing, but it will understand the intent and sit.
- Never force the dog to sit. Pressing too hard can make the dog fearful or uncomfortable.
- Never hit or slap the dog’s hindquarters. This will not teach the dog to sit and will only make it afraid of you.
- If the dog resists and doesn’t sit, try walking the dog for a while with the leash to “reset” the sitting process, then stop to encourage it to sit again.
Say “Sit” When the Dog’s Rear End Touches the Ground
Maintain the hand signal for 30 seconds to let the dog associate the sitting posture with your command.
Repeat the Sitting Position Gently
You should repeat this process several times, rewarding and praising each time the dog sits successfully. Continue guiding the dog into a sitting position by pressing your hand several times until it learns to sit on command.
Change the Environment
If the dog stubbornly refuses to sit, try moving to a different surface that the dog finds more comfortable for sitting. You can also allow the dog to take breaks and try again when the dog is “calmer.”
Stay Persistent
For especially energetic dogs, it may take several weeks of consistent training to become accustomed to the “sit” command. To help keep the dog calm and expedite the process, remember to stay calm and speak in a soothing tone. You can also schedule training sessions during the least distracting times and gradually increase the difficulty as the dog becomes less restless.
Training Without Support
When the dog is accustomed to sitting with your assistance, it’s time to teach it to sit without assistance. Keep the dog on a leash, command “sit” while the dog is standing, and gradually reduce treats while continuing to praise. This way, you will teach the dog to sit without relying on physical guidance.
Praise Natural Behavior
Apply this method with larger, calmer dogs. This approach may be less effective with puppies but highly effective with larger dogs with a calm attitude.
Train in a Comfortable Environment
It’s best to start training at home, where there are fewer distractions. Train in a small area indoors that allows your dog to move around comfortably.
Remember that this is a time for training, not just observation. You should maintain a calm demeanor and try not to disrupt the dog’s natural behavior.
Observe the Dog Until It Sits
Do not do anything to prompt the dog to sit; instead, allow the dog to move around comfortably until it sits on its own.
Say “Sit!” and Reward Immediately
Ensure you say “sit” and immediately reward the dog when it sits down. Speak clearly and with a friendly tone. Reward the dog by patting its head and saying, “Good dog!” or offering a small treat.
Avoid Scolding the Dog Sternly
Dogs do not respond effectively to negative training methods. Stick to positive reinforcement and avoid scolding the dog harshly.
Repeat the Exercise Frequently
To help the dog associate the action of sitting with the command “sit,” you should practice this method frequently. Try being with the dog for 30 minutes to an hour, using the method described, every time the dog sits.
Command “Sit” Without Support
When you’ve successfully trained the dog to understand the command “sit” with support from you, practice having the dog sit when you give the command. When the dog follows your direction, immediately reward it. Keep training until the dog can sit on command without the need for rewards.
