Multiple Cues for Dogs

The way we used to teach our dog to sit was to push down on its rump and say "Sit." Sometimes it went, "Sit, sit, sit, Sit, Sit, SIT!" while pushing harder and harder. Maybe the dog sat and maybe it didn't.

Sooner or later it would dawn on the would-be dog trainer that if you held the dog's head up it would sit sooner. Eventually either the dog would learn to sit on command or the person would give up in disgust.

When a trainer teaches a dog that a particular sound, or signal, means that it will get a treat, then it is possible to teach a behavior without using a command. Simply watch until the animal does something desirable then click or whistle or say good. Pretty soon the animal will be offering the behavior on a regular basis. Now it can be put on cue.

Let's continue to use sit as our example of the desired behavior. When the dog sits the trainer clicks. The dog will immediately come for its treat. Right now this is okay. Give the treat and then ignore the dog until it sits again. Repeat the process until the dog figures out it is being clicked for the act of sitting.

Once the sit is accomplished, which may only take a few minutes or can take much longer, depending on the dog and the trainer then it is time to introduce a signal. The word sit can be said just as the dog sits. Then back up and use the sit command as the dog is in the process of sitting. Back up still more and give the command when it appears the dog is thinking about sitting. And finally say "Sit" when the dog is still standing. If you've laid your ground work properly the dog should promptly sit. You click and dog gets treat; mission accomplished. Sit is now on command.

Another easier way to teach a dog to sit is to take a bit of the dog's favorite treat or its favorite treat and holding it in your right hand put it close enough to the dog's nose for the dog to catch the smell and then, keeping the back of your hand towards the ground, lift the treat over the dog's head and then move it backwards. Most dogs will sit as they watch the treat.

If the dog backs up then the trainer finds a place, near a wall or corner is good, that keeps the dog from backing up and repeats the exercise. The dog sits and then receives its treat. The extra in this method is that the dog is learning the hand signal used in advanced obedience at the same time it is learning to sit. The signal used for sit when campaigning a dog for the more advanced obedience titles is hand extended straight out, palm up and lift hand towards yourself.
The signal for down is your arm held straight over head with palm forward. Sweep your hand down to your side.

You can add the verbal command sit after this. I recommend adding the verbal command because there might be a time you need to have your dog sit and it cannot see you. If your dog should get out and be running away from you is a time you might need your voice commands. If the dog responds and doesn't run out in the street the effort to teach both verbal and hand signals is well rewarded. Additionally, you need the hand signals because what if you are in a noisy environment and need to signal your dog to sit or down immediately? Then the hand signals will get the job done.