How to Train a German Shepherd Puppy to Sit and Stay

You are going to use a treat to lure the pup into a sitting position, and then praise him. This helps him understand that you desire him to sit and when he does so he gets a fuss, hence making this something he's keen to repeat. As the last step you will add a cue word, so that the action is labelled.

Working in a distraction-free room, hold a treat between your finger and thumb. Place the treat near the dog's nose so he smells it and you get his attention.

Now lure the dog into a sitting position by moving the treat. Travel the treat in an arc over the dog's head and behind his back. In an attempt to follow the treat, the pup will naturally drop into a sitting position. If this doesn't happen, try a different angle until you find the arc that does make him sit.

As soon as the dog sits, praise him in an excited way and give him the treat. Keep practicing this. You may find that the dog quickly learns to anticipate what's about to happen and offers you a sit as soon as the treat starts moving.

When the pup is regularly sitting in response to the lure, start adding in your cue word "sit". This gives the action a name so that the dog understands what's expected of him. As his training progresses, start saying "sit" ahead of moving your hand. When he offers the 'sit' straight after a verbal command, things are really rocking and you can start working on 'stay'.

Once the pup has learned to sit, you can start working on 'stay'. First, teach the pup the self-control of staying in a seated position for a minute or more. Once he has achieved that, you can start stepping away and adding the element of distance.

Start out with the dog in a 'sit'. However, instead of instantly rewarding him, say "Good" in a happy voice, but make him wait a few seconds for the treat. If he starts to shuffle or move, make a disapproving "Uh-oh!" sound, to let him know this is the wrong thing to do. Start with just a few seconds' delay and then reward him.

Your first target is to have the dog sit for at least a minute. Do this gradually, building up 10 seconds, then 20 seconds, etc., until you get to 60 seconds. Once he is able to stay still for this time, you can start adding in distance.

Remain facing the dog in a seated position. Hold your hand up, palm facing the dog and say "Stay". Take one step away, pause, then step back. Praise and reward him if he stayed in a 'sit'.

As the pup masters each stage, gradually build up the distance separating you from the dog. At this point, remain facing the dog at all times. Once you are able to back away across the room you can add in the final element, which is turning your back.

Turning your back and walking away is a strong signal for the dog to follow. The final element of a good 'stay' is being able to turn your back and yet the dog doesn't move. This can be achieved in a number of ways that have the same end effect. One example is to back away across the room, and once you reach the far side turn slowly in a circle which ends with you facing the dog again. Then walk back towards him, praise and give a treat. Gradually build up his exposure to your back, so that he learns the rules still apply even if he can't see your face.

Old fashioned training methods depended on hoiking the dog up by the collar and pushing down forcibly on his rump. This stems from outdated thinking about dominating the dog. While it will teach the dog to sit, it is not teaching him to think through a request and problem solve. Instead, he learns by rote (at best) or through fear, neither of which are desirable.

Some pups are slow learners, others are fast. Let the pup's speed of learning guide you. Take things too quickly and the pup will just get confused and start to dread training rather than enjoy it.

The pup is learning and it's natural to make mistakes. If he fails to sit, don't punish him but instead think about how you can make the instruction clearer. Likewise, if he breaks a 'stay', never smack or punish him. It is acceptable to guide him with a disapproving "Uh oh", but this is meant as a cue that he made the wrong decision, rather than a chastisement.

Happy puppies learn more quickly than bored or miserable ones. Keep the tone of the training sessions light and fun, with lots of over-the-top praise when he does well.

If things go badly and the pup is struggling to get anything correct, then draw the session to a close and try again later. The chances are he is tired or distracted and will do much better after a rest. However, try to end each session on a positive note so that he looks forward to the next time. This is best done by giving him a simple command that you know he can do, so that you can shower him with praise and boost his self-confidence.