Train Any Dog to Sit on Command

Teaching a dog to sit is the first step in obedience training. If a dog knows how to sit then you can use that position to teach a lot of other tricks. Sitting can also help you protect your dog.

You may have seen dogs on TV or in person that will sit still with a piece of bacon or cracker on his nose. Usually the owner will say, "Wait, wait," then give an excited, "O.K!" This is only one of the tricks that requires your dog to sit first. Some other examples are: Sit then Lay, Sit and Stay, Sit and Beg, Sit and Shake (your hand) and Sit and Heal.

We once had a dog that was so willing to obey you that he would sit while running. It was quite funny until he rolled over and whined one time. We never did that again. But, it was very useful to protect his life. One time when we were traveling we let him out to stretch his legs. He being excited about being out ran across the parking lot to the grass. Thankfully there were no cars going by at the time. But on the return trip he got way ahead of me and this time there was a car. I yelled sit and he fell to the ground be right before he reached the parking lot. At that moment a red car speed by him. He looked back at me wagging his tail with his tongue sticking out. I was very pleased at that time that he was so obedient.

Your dog can also learn such obedience. As you know obedience will not be needed to save your dog's life everyday, but it may save his life one day. You may also choose to teach your dog how to stop and then sit on command.

When do you start

You should start as soon as you can. If you have a pup that is perfect. Dogs do learn best when they are young. On the other hand if you have an old dog he can learn as well. You may have heard that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. This is not true. Any dog can and will learn from you. The key is to show him respect and kindness. No training should include yelling or hitting. Also, use treats and other rewards that your dog loves. This is important. Some dogs do not respond to treats and yet will jump through hoops if you give them a little petting and a positive word.

Another thing to keep in mind is how well the dog knows you. Build a bond between you and your dog before starting your training. It is not necessary to have a strong bond yet. A strong bond will be built as you train your dog. The bond that you need to start training is for him to listen and respond to you. If your dog hides under the couch when you come into the room then you need to improve on your bond. He is scared. It will be even more important for you to be kind and respectful of your dog.

Build a bond by first watching your dog. What does he like? Is he high energy or lazy? What type of treats does he like? Does he always want your attention or is he pleased to sit by himself? Keep these things in mind as you talk to your dog and interact with him.

Training

To start your training simply tell your dog to sit, while holding a treat in your hand. When your dog does not sit gently push his rear down. You can excitedly tell your dog, "Great boy!" and give him a treat. Do this for a short time. Watch your dog to see if he is getting restless or wanting to do something else. If so then let him go or play with him for a little bit. Continue teaching with this same technique. Soon your dog will be sitting on command. After a short while you can start giving a great petting and a verbal reward in place of the treat. Do this slowly to keep your dog's attention. I usually put 1 verbal reward in a set of 5. You can slowly get to every other time and then continue to take the treats out. If he does not want the treat then you may try training just before his next meal or try a different treat.

Stop Before They Want You to Stop!

Your dog will learn faster and better if they want to learn. You can keep them wanting to learn by stopping before they want to stop. In the first couple of training session you will have notice about how long your dog is willing to take instructions. Use this for any future lessons. Try to train him in very short intervals. With young pups and old dogs it is even more important to train in short bursts.