Teaching your dog to sit is one of the easiest and most important commands you can train them. A solid “sit” command builds a foundation for teaching more advanced skills and helps ensure obedience. This article will provide step-by-step instructions on how to train a dog to sit through positive reinforcement.

So let’s get started on how to get your dog sitting pretty in no time!

Understanding the Sit Command

The sit command tells your dog to plant their rear end on the ground while keeping their front legs straight. This simple behavior serves many purposes:

• It forces your dog to pause and focus their attention on you rather than whatever has distracted them. This can be lifesaving if your dog is about to chase a car or animal.
• It puts your dog in a stationary position for easy leash handling if you need to restrain them.
• It’s a precursor to more complex behaviors like stay, down, heel or polite greeting.
• It helps establish you as the leader and earn your dog’s respect through a structured routine.

Before asking your dog to sit, make sure they don’t have any injuries or mobility issues that could make sitting painful. If your dog has hip dysplasia or arthritis for example, consult your veterinarian about alternatives.

Preparing for Training

To set your dog up for success:

Gather Supplies

At each training session, have 6-10 pieces of tasty, smelly treats like chicken, cheese or hot dog bits handy. Keep them in a treat pouch on your belt for easy access. You’ll also need a clicker if using marker-based training.

Set Aside Short Sessions

Plan 5 to 10-minute sessions right before mealtime when your dog is hungry and eager to work for food. Puppies under 6 months old have short attention spans, so keep initial sessions under 5 minutes.

Choose a Quiet Location

Start training in a low distraction room of your home with just you and your dog present. This allows your dog to focus on the mechanics of sitting without other people or dogs interrupting.

Once your dog reliably sits on cue for their meals over several weeks, you can practice in more challenging areas.

Luring Technique to Teach Sit

Luring uses a treat held right above your dog’s nose to entice them into a sit position. As they tip their nose up to sniff the treat, their hindquarters will lower down.

Step 1: Get Attention

Show your dog the treat in your closed hand. Let them sniff it briefly to get excited. Keep your hand closed so they can’t snatch the treat.

Step 2: Lift Treat to Eye Level

Still holding the treat in your closed hand, raise it up slowly between your dog’s eyes. Say “Rover, sit” as you lift your hand. Their head will tip back as they follow the treat, causing their hind legs to lower.

Step 3: Mark and Reward

The second their butt touches the ground, say “yes!” to mark the movement and give them the treat. After a few seconds, release them from the sit position with an “okay!” cue.

Step 4: Repeat 20 Times Per Session

Quickly repeat steps 1-3, using an enthusiastic, encouraging tone during the luring motion and reward. Do about 20 repetitions per training session until your dog sits reliably on seeing the lure motion.

Adding a Verbal Cue

Once your dog sits easily when shown the lure, you can introduce the verbal cue.

On some repetitions after you say “Rover, sit” give them an extra second to respond before lifting your lure hand. This pause allows them to think about what “sit” means.

Keep rewarding sits that happen after the verbal cue without needing the lure. Over many sessions, occasionally reward sits that happen as soon as you say the word without any lure at all.

Now move the verbal cue earlier, saying “sit” right before you lure or immediately as your dog’s butt touches the floor. Phrase it as a friendly reminder rather than an intimidating command.

Your dog will learn that “sit” predicts the tasty treat arriving when their butt hits the floor.

Fading the Lure

Once your dog reliably sits on verbal cue alone, you can phase out the lure.

On some repetitions, stand still and give the verbal cue without using your hand. When they sit, loudly praise “Good sit!” and give a treat.

Gradually request more sits without the lure until your dog responds to the verbal cue alone no matter where your hands are positioned.

Proofing the Behavior

Proofing teaches your dog to generalize the skill and obey in real life scenarios with distractions. Practice in multiple rooms of your home throughout the day.

Up the challenge by having family members ask for a sit or gently pushing on their back haunches while giving the verbal cue. Reward calm responses without frustration.

Over several weeks, practice short sits outdoors around grass, trees and fences. If your dog struggles, go back indoors and train in less stimulating rooms until mastered.

Keep training sessions fun and end them on a positive note so your dog stays eager to learn!

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Here are some common mistakes people make when training sit:

Problem: My dog stands up as soon as I lure them.

Solution: Hold the lure stationary over their eyes for a brief pause so they don’t follow it upward. Don’t lift the treat too high or fast. Ensure you reward only actual sitting positions.

Problem: My dog sits briefly then pops back up.

Solution: Wait longer before marking and rewarding the sit so they hold position longer. Practice asking for longer sit durations.

Problem: My dog sits away from me instead of close by my side.

Solution: Show the lure right in front of your dog’s nose instead of overhead. Reward only sits directly beside you, not facing away sits.

Problem: My dog sits sometimes but not reliably on command.

Solution: Stick with the luring method longer before adding the verbal cue. Ensure you reward every correctly performed sit with an immediate food treat before asking for another sit.

Be patient and consistent using the steps above, seeking guidance from an accredited dog trainer if needed. With regular short sessions, your dog will master this in no time!

Maintaining the Skill

Once your dog reliably sits on verbal cue alone, practice short sessions periodically throughout their life to ensure they retain this foundation skill. Use sit as a precursor to teaching down, stay, heel or polite leash walking.

Handy times to practice include:

• Before mealtimes
• Before petting or putting on a leash
• Before allowing off-leash play at a park
• Before crossing a road on walks

Always reinforce correct sits with praise, treats or access to a fun activity right afterwards so they understand the benefit to their behavior.

If you ever notice your dog slow to respond to the sit cue, go back to basics with the luring method and build proficiency through repetition. Keep training sessions short, positive and rewarding.

Conclusion

There you have it! A step-by-step guide to teach your dog how to sit properly on cue through luring technique and positive reinforcement.

With regular short training sessions, you can instill good manners in your dog and establish yourself as a capable leader. This strengthens your bond and makes them eager to learn new skills.

The “sit” behavior lays crucial groundwork for more complex cues down the road. It also serves practical purposes in creating an obedient, respectful companion.

Stick to the plan outlined here, troubleshoot issues with patience and consistency, enlist a trainer if needed, and you’ll have a dog happy to park it on request in no time!