Training a dog to sit

Training a dog to sit is one of the simplest and most useful dog training commands you'll ever teach your puppy.

 

This is the basic, default position, which you can then use in a number of situations. When sitting, your puppy is under control and paying attention so it's a great basis for other commands such as down or drop and stay.

Who can fail to be impressed by a dog that sits nicely to get a treat, while having its leash attached, while you open the door or while you greet visitors! So let's teach that puppy to sit with these simple steps.

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On this page:

Training a dog to sit - why do it?

How to train a dog to sit

Practise makes perfect

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Training a dog to sit - why do it?

Training a dog to sit is probably the most useful thing you can teach your dog after teaching him to know his name and come when called.

You can use the 'sit' as the default position for all sorts of things:

• to get a treat
• to wait while his food is placed in front of him
• while you open a door or gate
• when visitors arrive (instead of jumping up)
• when you are attaching his leash
• when you are inspecting his eyes, ears, teeth or paws.

This is also one of the easiest commands to teach. You can start training a dog to sit from a young age and once he has mastered this simple command, both of you will find it easier to learn more complicated commands.

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How to train a dog to sit

First, make sure you have your marker word or clicker ready if you are using them (see Clicker Puppy Training) and have a reward ready, as we learned in Puppy training tips. A food reward or treat will work best for this exercise.

Remember: Keep your training session short. You may split these steps over several 1-2 minutes sessions throughout the day.

Step 1

Stand in front of your dog and hold the treat in front of you dog's nose.

Steadily move your hand upwards and just over the dog's head. Don't say anything at this stage (don't use the cue word 'sit').

As your hand moves over the dog's head, the head and nose will tip up to follow the treat. The back legs will start to fold and your dog's rear end will hit the floor.

As soon as your dog's rear touches the floor, praise him (or click/say your marker word) and give him the reward.

Repeat this a few times until your dog is sitting consistently. Remember to give him more praise and a short game when you've finished.

NOTE: If your dog snaps at the treat, say 'uh-uh' in a disapproving voice, close your fist over the treat and hide your hand. Wait a few moments and try again. He'll soon learn that snapping at the treat gets him nowhere!

HINT: Don't hold the treat up too high or your dog will try to jump for it.

Step 2

Once your dog is successfully sitting with the hand movement, it's time to add your cue (command) word.

Repeat the exercise but as you move the hand say Sit!, briskly and brightly (remember you don't have to shout or growl!).

Click/mark and reward as soon as his rear end hits the floor.

Repeat as before until the hand movement and the voice cue are happening together.

Step 3

Once you have steps 1 and 2 working well, you can start training a dog to sit on a hand signal.

Decide what sort of hand signal will work best for you. A raised index finger or an upward movement with an open palm are two common 'sit' signals. Some people use hand extended with the palm flat.

Conceal the treat in your palm with your thumb and give your chosen hand signal while saying Sit!

Click/mark, praise and reward immediately.

Do this a few times, then conceal the treat in your other hand and repeat the exercise so the dog knows the treat is not in the hand giving the signal.

Once this is working consistently, practise sometimes with hand signal and cue word together, sometimes with the hand signal alone and sometimes with the cue word alone. This can be very handy in everyday life, as you won't always be in a situation where you can give either the hand signal or cue word or both.

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Practise makes perfect

Now that your dog understands the 'sit' command, you can practise this at different times of the day and in different situations quickly and easily.

Remember to 'fade the lure' - that is, after you're getting consistent results, don't lure him to sit with food in your hand every time and reward with a treat only every so often. But praise him every time he sits properly.

Before long, your dog will adopt the 'sit' position without prompting any time he thinks there may be treats, games or other pleasurable things about to happen.

Now you're ready to move on to the other basic puppy obedience commands: down, stand and stay. See How to Train a Dog to Lie Down, Training a Dog to Stand and Training Your Puppy to Stay.

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