Pet Talk Training Course #1 - SIT

[elizabethann]

So this will be the first command we'll teach. Some of you have dogs that already know this command, but some don't (like Fenway will go "down" sometimes when I say "sit"). Why is that? So lets teach our dogs to "sit". I know Kfamr has some ideas (and others too). But how do you get your dog to "sit"? Do you use food? Where does your hand go when you ask your dog to "sit" (if you use hand signals)? Let's learn commands/tricks together so that by next week, our dogs will be pros at "sitting" & then we can go onto another command/trick. Don't forgot to post your pictures once your dog has mastered the command.

Okay, class #1 is in session.

[animal_rescue]

Oh Joy! All my dogs ruffly(hehe) know sit. So I'll definitely be working on that this week.

As for training: usually to teach sit I either A) Push their butt down while saying sit or B) Hold a treat over their nose, not to high for them to jump and not to low they can touch it standing.

[DrKym]

Wonderful! since mine know sit we will work on it as People approach and at curbs! Reinforce it and hone a bit more house manners! can't wait to see and share pics!

[cmayer31]

I will be working on sit with Frankie mostly. Any suggestion for working on sit without a treat reward? Frankie will sit for treats, but often times when we're out hiking I'd like her to sit with voice/hand signals, but without using a treat as I don't normally carry them with me while hiking.

[DrKym]

When teaching with treats, vary it. Give a treat for the first sit , do it again and just give a scritch or a good dog!, next time maybe a treat, etc. That way Frankie will catch on that SOMETIMES there is a treat and he will never be sure when so he will adapt and sit each time! My guys are happy with the praise and scritchies, but the occosional treat makes it a bonus!

[Anita Cholaine]

I got to teach Anita a few tricks, but she never really learnt sit, so I find this thread pretty useful.
I'll try to start working again on sit tomorrow, probably we'll do better with PTer's help.

[3GSDMom]

When I teach sit I hold the treat up over there heads where they can see it. Once they are paying attention I give the command and slide the treat up over their head - which usually puts them into a sit. If just using the treat as a lure doesn't help, you can also push their butts down while using the treat. Also, the method I use teaches them a hand signal as well. Travis will now sit (and do other commands) with just hand signals. (and no treats as lures).

I hope that made sense.

[Kfamr]

The method I use for sit is very similar to others.

I hold a treat over their head (while saying the command "SIT.") Low enough so they don't jump, and slowly move it behind them so they sit. If this doesn't work I gently press on their backends. I hold the treat in with my thumb, middle, ring, and pinky fingers. My pointer finger is pointed upwards, which is my hand signal for sit. When they sit they receive the treat as well as verbal and physical praise.

My dogs are told to sit for everything - treats, dinner time, to go outside, get their collars or leashes, bandanas, to be petted, etc. They sit as soon as they see that they are going to get something.


Craig, re-train Frankie with a hand signal, try it the way I have with the treat and the signal at the same time. She may think you have a treat with you do the hand signal, but give her physical/verbal praise instead.

[critter crazy]

I got a question, both my large dogs, know how to sit, but will only listen if I am standing up!! For instance if i am sitting on the couch and say sit, they just look at me dumfounded! Why is that?? can someone help me with this?????

[Kfamr]

I got a question, both my large dogs, know how to sit, but will only listen if I am standing up!! For instance if i am sitting on the couch and say sit, they just look at me dumfounded! Why is that?? can someone help me with this?????

Did you train them standing up?

A lot of times when training I will move to different area of the house/different positions. Sometimes I'll train while sitting on the floor, sometimes I'll train while standing up, sometimes I'll train on my knees, etc.

I'd re-train them in different positions using some of the advice given here.

[critter crazy]

Did you train them standing up?

A lot of times when training I will move to different area of the house/different positions. Sometimes I'll train while sitting on the floor, sometimes I'll train while standing up, sometimes I'll train on my knees, etc.

I'd re-train them in different positions using some of the advice given here.

hmm....that seems to make sense!!!! duh!!! will work on it!!

[GreyhoundGirl]

I taught her sit by doing a swift upward movement with my right hand, which had some tasty teats in it. (which is used as the hand signal) Being no different then the average hound her eyes followed it. I just put it a bit further over her head and the butt plopped down. It was pretty simple.

Now all I have to do is either

1)take out a treat and the bum goes down. LOL!
2) do the hand signal.

[buttercup132]

I tought Thunder with the good hold hand over the head trick. He now sits on command when I snap my fingers.

[agilityk9trainer]

Interesting responses.

First, I'd like to say that there is some thinking among professional trainers (of which I am one) that pushing on the butt to teach sit is causing hip problems, especially with big dogs. I and many professionals no longer recommend that old method.

The method I use is very similar to the one many of you have suggested. Take a treat. Hold it in your hand with the tip of your forefinger and thumb. With your palm up, put the treat RIGHT IN THE DOG'S NOSE. I mean, get that treat in the dog's nose, but don't let him have it. Let him get a whiff of what you've got. Then, slowly raise your hand up over the head and back. As the dog leans back to see the treat, the butt will fall. Don't push the butt down. You may, if necessary, very lightly place your hand on the back end, but do not push. The instant the dog sits, give a treat. Use a release word (OK) to release the dog from the sit. Praise verbally. You can pet as well. Repeat.

You actually don't add the command "sit" until the dog is luring into the sit position easily. Then, you will say "sit" before you begin the lure. Otherwise, the word "sit" won't develop power. If the dog can't even sit, how will it know what sit means?

Also, the biggest error people make with this method is incorrect placement of the lure. If your dog is jumping up to get the treat, you are holding the treat too high over the dog's head. Remember, it's up slightly and back - all done slowly. People also have a tendancy to move the lure way, way to fast. This is done slowly.

Over time, remove the treat from your luring hand. Keep the treat in your other hand, but continue to "pretend" there's a treat in your luring hand. Upon the sit, immediately bring in the treat with the other hand. Over time, lift your luring hand higher and higher in the air. This motion (moving your palm to the ceiling) will become your sit signal. Cool, huh!

If this method isn't working for you, you simply are doing it incorrectly. It does help to have someone watch you do it. In addition, seeing someone do it in person is priceless. Hence the importance of working in obedience classes with a real trainer.

As far as "fading" (getting rid of treats after a behavior has been learned) goes, I just posted a rather lengthy explanation on how to do that in Dog Behavior. I, unfortunately, cannot remember the name of the thread.

However, one poster said to treat for the first time your dog sits and not for the next, etc. This isn't the best approach when teaching a new behavior. When teaching a new behavior, you always treat for each successful competion of the behavior. You fade the treat away AFTER the dog has a full understanding of the command and the dog can perform it in any environment.

Also, when teaching a new behavior, I use the best treats I can get my grubby hands on. I'm not talking expensive, but the things my dog loves the best. This is usually human food. I only use human food as rewards in training, and also only for new behaviors or behaviors I'm having trouble with. Once the dog gets the behavior down, I will switch to a middle range treat (usually something store bought - my dogs like Bil Jac's Gooberlishish treats). Finally, you can switch to biscuits, and begin fading the food away (again see my post in Behavior).

Another aspect to teaching a strong behavior is "proofing." While your dog may sit fantastically in your house with few distractions, they may act like they've never heard the word when they get into a highly distractive environment. So, you must build up distractions as your dog becomes better at a behavior. I train at parks, strip-malls, Petsmarts, on walks, at people's homes - just anywhere I can find with an unusal environment that might distract the dog. Just remember. Increase the distractions slowly.

Also, an interesting point to know, dogs seem to "forget" behaviors at times. They will know sit like the back of their paw, and then one day, poof, it's gone. You'll ask for a sit, and they'll look at you like they never heard the word before. Seriously. Trainers believe they have kindof forgotten! This is EXTREMELY common. Don't get frustrated. Just go back to basics and retrain it. It will only take them a few minutes to "remember." Problems develop if the handler gets frustrated and begins getting angry at the dog. Then, "sit" becomes a bad thing, not a good thing. Always make training fun. Never get frustrated. This should be a game for the dog - not work. My dogs LOVE to train because I make it the most fun thing they do all day. It's play, play, play.

Have fun training!

[agilityk9trainer]

Ah, the thread I referenced in Behavior is called, "A Few Things I Need Help With."