“You have such an obedient dog,” or “Oh, your doggie is so smart”! This is what you’ll hear from your friends and family when they see that your dog can sit on command. With that being said, many people find it difficult to teach their dog to sit. Some people don’t even bother to try treaching their dogs tricks because they consider it unnecessary.
Are you interested in training your dog to sit but feel overwhelmed by the thought of it? Are you worried that you won’t succeed? No need to worry! In this article, we’ll teach you how to train your dog to sit on command.
Why should I teach my dog to sit?
Is it worth training your dog to sit on command? Or more generally, is it worth training a dog at all? If you want your dog to be loyal and obedient, it’s important to establish rules as soon as your pet moves in with you. A dog, especially a large one, should not behave without limits or constraints. This is because you need to keep yourself, your dog, and others around you safe.
The sit command: the basics of dog training
When training dogs, “sit”, “down” and “stand” are amongst the most essential commands. It is best to teach your dog to sit before moving on to other commands like “down”. This command is useful because larger dogs like Beaucerons and Siberian Huskies are less intimidating for strangers when they are sitting.
When should I use the “sit” command?
Using the “sit” command allows you, the owner, to be in control of the situation. When two dogs meet for the first time, it is important that they sit together before getting closer to each other. This prevents dog fights from happening.
When you have guests at your house, using the “sit” command prevents your dog running over to your guests and hurting or frightening them.
It’s also useful to ask your dog to sit when you’re in an enclosed space with people that your dog doesn’t know, such as in an elevator or store.
Additionally, when waiting in front of a store, at the exit of a school, or at a crosswalk, the “sit” command comes in handy. This will help keep you and your dog safe.
How do I teach my dog to sit on command?
Passive method
The passive method consists of observing your dog and waiting for them to put themselves in a sitting position. When they do this, you should say “sit” and praise your dog. By doing this, you are teaching your dog to associate the word “sit” with the position that they are in. They will also associate it with pleasant memories because you are rewarding your dog when they do it.
A great time to try this method is during playtime. When playing fetch, dogs naturally sit down to follow the object with their eyes before chasing it. As soon as you see your dog sit on the ground, say “sit”.
Active method
This method is different from the previous one because we are not waiting for our dog to be in the sitting position. Instead, we are encouraging them to sit. You should never force your dog to go in a sitting position.
You can try to get your dog to sit by offering them treats. To do this, crouch down with a treat in your hand. Show your dog that you have a treat but keep your hand distanced from their mouth. Then, stand up while raising the treat above their head. When you do this, your dog will start to stand on their back legs. Because it is tiring for them to stay on their hind legs, they will start to sit down to be comfortable again. As soon as your dog sits down, say “sit” several times and praise your dog. You can then give your dog the treat that you had in your hand.
Repeat this multiple times, decreasing the amount of treats that you give and ending only with praising and petting. The first time that you do this, it should be in a quiet room far from objects that might tempt your pet to do something else. Once they master this command, your can train your dog in less comfortable situations, such as areas where there is noise or other people and pets around.
Useful tips to encourage your dog to obey the “sit” command
Getting your pet to learn a command through play is the best way to train your dog. They will love sharing these special moments with you.
Another useful tip is to be patient. Some dogs take longer than others to learn the “sit” command.
Our last piece of advice is to keep training sessions short. Find two to three short moments throughout the day to teach your dog to sit.
You now have what it takes to train your dog to sit on command. Have confidence in yourself and your dog! Good luck!