1. The first step is to get your puppy to sit on his own. Be observant and whenever you see him about to sit, say the word ’sit’; eventually he will come to associate the word with his action. This method is also useful in other areas of training.
2. Next you want to reward him with a treat. You should use his favorite but be sure to break it into small pieces so he can eat them quickly.
3. Get to the same level as the dog by sitting on the floor. He feels less threatened if you sit. More importantly, you are closer to the dog so he can be rewarded faster.
4. Get your dog to sit on his own by moving the treat over the puppy’s head in a very slow movement. He will get him to follow its movement with he’s nose because of the smell it emits. By doing so, he’ll have two choices: He could back up, or he could just sit down. Considering that sitting down is the easiest thing to do, he will do just that.
5. The instant the dog sits, say “sit” and offer the treat. The timing of the reward is the most important part of training. It must be given exactly when the dog does the behavior you want.
6. Sometimes rewards can be more than just treats so the next step is to praise him. Show joy with your voice and your body language.
7. Repeat these steps not more than 5 times in a row, but you can repeat the steps multiple times each day.
8. Next, try the same things while standing. See if your dog reacts to the word “sit” even if you don’t use your hand or offer a treat. If he sits, praise him for sitting, but if he doesn’t, don’t worry about it. During training it’s important not to show any disappoint to the dog.
You need to keep practicing this so that your dog your dog will learn to sit when you tell him to no matter what’s happening around him. This is something you’ll have to keep working at for the rest of his life. He will constantly be faced with new situations, strange people, other dogs, and different environments, and you can use each new experience as a way to challenge him to reach greater heights.
Learning how to train a dog to sit will reward you in many ways. When you begin training, the puppy learns to respond to his name and becomes accustomed to training and your commands. You earn the puppy’s respect as his or her master, and in turn your pet will feel safe and secure. At the end of the day, you will both know you’re a great match!
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