How to Teach “Sit”

Teaching your dog to sit is a great skill. It can help the dog focus, provides good behaviour in place of an undesired one, such as jumping up, and can even help keep them safe. Remember to be patient, consistent and do not use force or push a dog’s hind end down when teaching them to sit.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• 6’ leash
• Treat pouch, or bag of bite-sized treats
• High and medium value treats
• Clicker (not necessary, but can be used)

Steps:

1. While facing the dog, hold a treat just in front of the dog’s nose.
2. Take the treat and lure the dog (slowly moving the treat up and backwards) over the dog’s head.
3. As the dog’s head follows the treat up and back, their rear end will drop in a sitting position.
4. Mark (click or “Yes”) the behaviour and deliver the treat as soon as the dog sits. Follow with praise and petting.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 until the dog is reliably offering the behaviour.
6. Once the dog is starting to offer the behaviour, add the verbal cue “Sit.”
7. Say “Sit” as soon as the dog’s hind end touches the ground, then mark (click or “Yes”) and reward with a treat.
8. Aer a few consistent sessions, begin to say “Sit” before the dog sits down, then mark (click or say “Yes”) and reward.

As the dog becomes more consistent with “Sit,” increase difficulty by changing environments or slowly add distractions. If you need assistance, please contact a professional trainer or behaviour consultant.