| People mistakenly think that teaching their dog to | | | | your puppy dog will not have any idea what you |
| sit is incredibly hard. But it's easy! | | | | mean. So, with your right hand, you will pull up on |
| All you have to have is (a) the right technique and | | | | the leash while pushing down on the dog's |
| (b) the patience to repeat the same command | | | | hindquarters with your left hand. Forcibly, if need |
| and tactile actions about 25 to 30 times. | | | | be. |
| By the 31st time, I'd be willing to bet your dog | | | | The combination of the two actions may bring a |
| (because he or she is smarter than anyone else's) | | | | surprised yelp and a bit of struggle. But gently |
| is already starting to sit when you give the | | | | (and firmly) pull up with your right hand, and push |
| command. | | | | down with your left. The dog really has no choice |
| Elapsed time: about 30 minutes. Repeat as | | | | but to comply, and as he or she does so, lavish |
| necessary to gain full "sit" control. That's it! | | | | them with praise. |
| Here's the complete low-down: | | | | As I said, the first time for the sit command will |
| The Sit Command is one of the easiest | | | | be a new experience for you both. But the |
| commands to teach your dog during dog training. | | | | second time will be a bit easier. And the third, and |
| The reason? It involves tactile (touch), the leash | | | | the fourth time, as each completed command is |
| and collar combo, and praise (one of the most | | | | followed with praise, you'll be thinking: "this dog |
| important ingredients in dog training). | | | | behavior, dog training thing is a snap" - but only |
| Here's the basic routine for the "Sit" command: | | | | when the dog's hindquarters are actually touching |
| position your dog by your left side, with the | | | | the ground can the celebration begin. Then, the |
| "pinch" collar (or the collar of your choice) in place | | | | reinforcement in the dog behavior will be clearly |
| around your dog's neck. Your dog probably will be | | | | associated with the command and the subsequent |
| standing on your left, tongue hanging out, | | | | action. |
| wondering what's next. Yup, yup - what's next? | | | | By the time you get to the tenth time, believe it |
| It's simple. Every command sequence follows | | | | or not, the dog will likely already be in the motion |
| basically the same routine, a standard in | | | | of sitting down as your right hand goes up with |
| programming dog behavior: a minimum of words, | | | | the leash, and your left hand is reaching for the |
| tactile reinforcement of the command (until they | | | | dog's hind end. |
| start associating the command with the action), | | | | Repetition is like magic for dogs! Issue the same |
| and praise - lots and lots of praise (when the | | | | command, in the same tone of voice, in the same |
| action is completed correctly :-) | | | | sequence, as many times as you want to |
| Here's how it goes in sequence: Call the dog by | | | | practice this. But I would not try it more than 30 |
| name, speak the command, and follow through | | | | times in a row - both of you will get bored. |
| with touch. | | | | Instead, begin practicing the next step, which will |
| In this case, for my dog, it would be "Honey! Sit!" | | | | be to teach your puppy dog the "Down!" |
| spoken in a commanding tone. The first time, | | | | command. |