- Teaching a reliable sit is very important & is the first most essential cue.
- We actually don’t teach our dogs to sit, they already know how to sit. We are, however, teaching them to “sit” on cue… VISUAL FIRST – for 3 to 4 days
- Treat in hand between thumb & index finger, open palm facing the ceiling, hold treat slightly in front of dogs nose…
- Slowly lift the treat in front of the dog & they should sit. As soon as the bottom hits the ground, click or use verbal mark & treat…
- Try not to raise hand any higher than your hip, as dog might think you are asking for a “watch me”… Example: students raising hand to their chest or near their face…
- If dog does not sit, slowly raise treat over dog’s head & gravity should help put them into a sit (dogs eyes are following treat backward over their head). ADD VERBAL CUE
- After 3 to 4 days using visual cue only, add verbal cue “sit”, followed by visual. As soon as the bottom hits the ground, click or use verbal mark & treat…
- Try not to repeat verbal cue as dog might become desensitized to the word & ignore it completely.
The advice and tips provided in this dog training blog post are based on general best practices and personal experiences. Please consult a professional dog trainer or veterinarian for specific issues or before starting any new training regimen with your dog.