How to Train Your Puppy to Sit

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How to Train Your Puppy to Sit

Easy

2-4 Weeks

General

Introduction

So you’ve welcomed a new puppy into your life. Like most puppies, your new friend is probably full of energy and curious about the world. You are likely looking for a way to corral his energy and start building a foundation for a well-behaved dog. Training your puppy to put his rear end on the ground on command is a great way to begin the training process and teach your puppy some good manners.

Defining Tasks

'Sit' is one of the most basic commands your puppy can learn and one of the easiest when you are starting out. It is considered a foundational command, as it creates a base for puppies to begin learning 'stay', 'down', and other similar commands. The 'sit' command helps your puppy learn self-control and focus, an important skill for a young, energetic animal. While 'sit' is easy to learn, your puppy likely has a short attention span, so it may take a few weeks of short sessions before he is reliably sitting on command.

Getting Started

Training your puppy to sit will take a good deal of patience. It is important during this process to stay calm and not raise your voice. You want his first experience with training to be fun so he will want to continue learning.

Gather some treat and your clicker, if you are doing clicker training. Choose a calm area of your house to begin training. You want a space where your puppy can focus on you without being interrupted by noises or other distractions. For any method you choose, you should train in short sessions of five minutes or less.

The Food Lure Method

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Step

Get on your puppy's level

First, you want to make sure you are on the same level as your puppy. Crouch, kneel on the floor, or sit in a chair so you are at the same height as your puppy.

Step

Use the treat as a lure

Hold the treat about an inch away from your puppy’s nose and slowly move it up and towards the back of his head. Your puppy should follow the treat with his nose as you move your hand up. As he does so, his rear head will lower towards the floor.

Step

Reward the behavior

As soon as your puppy’s rear end touches the floor, click or use a bridge word, such a “yes” or “good,” and then immediately give him a treat. You do not need to add in the command word right away.

Step

Repeat the process

Wait until your puppy gets up. If he walks away from you, wait for him to come back or call him over. Then repeat the process. Use the food to encourage him to sit and then immediately click or say your bridge word and reward the behavior.

Step

Add in the verbal command

After a few repetitions, you can add in the verbal command. You can do this by saying “sit” right before your puppy’s rear end touches the floor and then rewarding him. Over time, he will begin to associate the word “sit” with getting a treat.

Step

Keep practicing

Continue working on 'sit', giving the command earlier and reducing the lure.

Step

Wean him off the treats

As your puppy becomes familiar with the command, begin giving him treats less frequently. You should still praise your puppy every time he sits, but you are slowly working towards him sitting without any treats at all.

The Guiding Method

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Step

Squat or kneel next to your puppy

For this method, you will need to be within arm’s length of your puppy to guide him into the proper position. Sitting down or kneeling on the ground is a good way to achieve this.

Step

Show him the way

Place one hand on your puppy’s chest and the other behind his rear legs. Using gentle pressure, press upward on his chest and against the back of his knees. As you guide him into the sitting position, say “sit.”

Step

Give him a reward

Once your puppy is sitting, give him a treat. You want the reward to come as close to the action as possible so your puppy associates the treat with the “sit” position.

Step

Reinforce the behavior

Your puppy will likely stand up soon after reaching the sitting position. Repeat the process of guiding him into a sit and rewarding the behavior several times.

Step

Let him try on his own

After practicing a few times, try saying "sit" without guiding your puppy. If he sits, reward him. If he doesn’t, guide him into the position while saying "sit" calmly and firmly. Reward him as soon as he is sitting.

Step

Make rewards sporadic

Slowly, your puppy will begin to connect the word “sit” with the action and reward. As he learns the skill, you can alternate between giving him a treat and another reward, such as petting him or giving him a toy. This process helps reinforce the behavior.

The Wait and Reward Method

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Step

Choose a marker

For this method, you need to settle on a word to mark the behavior you are looking for. A marker can be a click or a certain word, such as “good” or “yes.” You will use this marker every time your dog sits to mark the behavior you want.

Step

Wait for your dog to sit

This step requires some patience. You will need to wait until your puppy naturally sits down. As soon as he sits, use your marker and give him a treat.

Step

Repeat, repeat, repeat

Continue to watch your puppy and use your marker combined with the treat. It will take a few tries for your puppy to realize what is happening.

Step

Be patient

Some dogs simply sit more than others. Using this method may take a while. You will need to be patient and continue to reward your puppy immediately every time he sits down during your training sessions.

Step

Add in the command

In the beginning, you are only rewarding the desired behavior. Once your puppy catches the idea of the game, he will start to sit over and over to get more treats. When you notice this happening, you can add in the verbal command by saying “sit” just before his rear end touches the ground and then rewarding the behavior.

Step

Phase out the rewards

Your goal is to get to the point where your puppy doesn't need a treat to sit on command. As your puppy progresses, give him treats less often. You should keep using the marker until you are confident your puppy is fully trained on the "sit" command.