How to Train Your Puppy to Sit

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.

'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.

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.