Teaching how to train a dog to sit may be one of the most important dog training commands that you teach your pet. Sit can help protect your dog from potentially dangerous situations where he can get injured. He will also enjoy the feeling of control over a task that he has not learned to do yet. Dogs are very intelligent creatures, but they can be stubborn at times. If you want to teach them some tricks, then here are some tips that you may find helpful.
To begin with, always provide treats when your dog does something good. Your dog will naturally work towards a reward after he does a command that he is trained for. If you want him to sit, simply give him a treat once he complies. Be sure to use the same treat every time so that he gets the idea that it means something special if he complies. Puppies as small as six months can easily catch on to the sitting behavior, and older dogs with mobility issues can also easily learn how to sit after being given a treat.
The second step in dog training is to encourage good behavior. One way to do this is to teach your dog the word “no”. This will help him understand that if he is barking or whining, you will not respond to his behavior. Once he understands the meaning of that word, he will stop his behavior immediately.
Another tip for training how to train a dog to sit is to take one step at a time. Don’t try to train him for every minute that passes. If you start with a treat, then eventually move on to the next step. Do not get frustrated if he doesn’t sit immediately. It may take a few tries before he learns to sit.
To encourage your dog to sit on cue, hold the treat in front of his nose. As he starts to sniff it, say “sit” in a firm voice. Praise him when he complies, saying “good dog” each time. Eventually, he will understand that if he keeps sniffing the treat, you will reward him for sitting.
While you are teaching how to train dogs to sit, it is important to remember that he should remain sitting in the beginning until he has learned the sitting position. Dogs are very intuitive creatures. They are able to locate their owner by their scent, much like children with their own scent determining their place in a family structure. Once they have learned the sitting position, continue to do the same until he becomes familiar with the command. Take him to the same spot each time that you want him to sit and then begin moving the treat around until he begins to look at it in the same direction as you.
When he responds to your commands by sitting quietly, offer the clicking sound from the clicker, but do not make the clicking sound yourself. If he hears the click and thinks that you are rewarding him for sitting, he will eventually begin to look to you to please you. If he continues to ignore your commands, pick up the clicking sound yourself and make sure you say the word clearly and in a firm voice, indicating that you mean business. This will have him looking to you each time for praise or food.
You can begin using the clicker in combination with other training treats. You can use the clicker when he is in the process of going to the bathroom, when he is in the sit position, after eating, or just when he starts to look for the reward loose leash. Once he understands that praise and food rewards, he will start to look to you more often for them. Be patient and gentle with him, but be firm and consistent. Over time, your dogs will learn not to look for the reward loose leash.