How to Train a Havanese Puppy to Sit

Have you ever seen a small breed service dog performing medical alert tasks, emotional support assistance, or pressure therapy? When most people think of service dogs, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers come to mind. Those breeds are commonly used as service dogs for a number of great reasons, but many small dogs are also trained to offer specific types of assistance. These dogs may not be large enough to lead the blind, but they can alert their owners to oncoming seizures, blood sugar drops, or panic attacks. Small dogs often get the reputation of being noisy, rude, and nippy. 

Unfortunately, just like any dog, your small dog could become that way if he is not properly trained, but your Havanese puppy could also grow up to be a loyal, obedient, and affectionate companion. Your puppy might even become a Service Dog, Therapy Dog, Canine Good Citizen, Emotional Support Animal, or simply a well trained best friend, who is portable enough and well trained enough to accompany you everywhere that dogs are allowed. 

Your Havanese puppy can benefit a lot from training. Not only will he or she be more pleasant to live with, easier to take places, and friendlier towards others, but your puppy will also be happier when he is given the attention, mental and physical stimulation, and purpose that training provides. 'Sit' is a wonderful command to teach, especially if you are just getting started. Not only will it make other commands such as 'down', 'heel', and 'stand' easier to teach, but it is also a great command to practice around your home, to teach your puppy to pay attention to you, respect you, trust you, and learn better self-control.

Not only is 'sit' an important command to teach your puppy so that you can communicate with him in everyday life, but 'sit' is also an important command if you wish to teach your puppy tricks. Dozens of tricks involve the 'sit' command, such as 'shake', balancing treats, 'beg' or 'sit pretty', 'dance', 'high five', and 'watch me'.

If your puppy is very young or timid, choose a less intimidating method, such as the 'Lure' method, for teaching 'sit'. If you are having trouble getting your puppy to sit when you do not have a treat in your hand after he understands the command, the 'Position' method might help.
Do not use the 'Position' method if your puppy has ever shown any form of aggression or is afraid of being touched. If your puppy is showing signs of aggression at this or any age, do not wait to seek help from a dog trainer in your area. The earlier that aggression is treated, the better the chances for a positive outcome. Aggression in a young puppy is serious.

If you choose to use the 'Position' method, then do not force your puppy's bottom to the ground. You are simply applying pressure to the base of your puppy's tail to encourage your puppy to lower his bottom to the floor on his own, in order to escape the uncomfortable sensation of your fingers. When you lift up your puppy's chin, do so gently. If your puppy squirms away from your hands, then simply try again, being gentle and patient, until your puppy sits.

To get started you will need lots of small, tasty treats. If your puppy is very food motivated, then you can also use his own dog food in place of the treats. If you are using the 'Lure' method then you will also need a corner, where two walls meet, to practice in. If your puppy will not stay with you while you are training, then attach a six-foot leash to him and step on it with your foot, to keep him from wandering off. If you are using the 'Capture' method, you will also need a treat pouch or a small Ziploc bag, to place your treats into. You will also need watchfulness and good timing. With all of the methods, you will need patience, a positive attitude, a good sense of humor, persistence, and gentleness. Most of all, remember to have fun!