There is an easy technique to train the dog to sit that is not taught in obedience schools, and it will not break the bank. Teaching dogs simple sit and stay commands can be done with only the briefest of attention and physical contact between you. In fact, you do not need to touch your dog to teach him to sit or stay. All you need to do is focus on his body language and you will soon know whether he is about to sit or not.
Start this training by first building your dog’s confidence in you. You can do this by simply praising him when he responds correctly to your sit commands. Eventually, your dog will start to understand that he will receive a treat if he stays sitting. This is very important dog training technique to train the dog to sit because dogs are natural performers and they love a chance to be appreciated.
You should also use a verbal reprimand when your dog does not sit or stay. Your dog will naturally connect the sound of your reprimand with the action of staying or sitting. Eventually this will become a habit and your dog will respond to your verbal reprimands every time he hears them. Your dog training regime should include the use of a similar verbal reprimand when your dog fails to sit or stay.
It is important to keep treats on hand at all times during your dog’s training. You will want to keep some kind of a “treat dispenser” next to your dog’s location so that you can offer treats whenever he exhibits the correct sit or stay behaviour. If he does not sit calmly in the correct position, you will need to give treats immediately. This will reinforce the fact that sitting and staying are critical to your dog’s well-being.
You should begin your training sessions early. Do not wait until the dog has developed bad habits such as sleeping where he eats. Before beginning any commands, you must teach your dog what word or phrase is associated with the action that he is about to perform. This will help you avoid having to repeat the same words or phrases repeatedly.
Once your dog has learned how to sit on cue, you can begin using the verbal command to train him to stay. The stay command can be taught in two different ways. The first way is to have your dog sit calmly next to you while you say the command. If your dog does not sit quietly, ignore him until he either sits or begins to stand. When he sits quietly, offer the stay command and again ignore him until he complies. If he does not sit still in place, you may need to use the command “sit” multiple times before he learns to sit calmly in place of standing.
The second way to teach the stay command is to use treats. Offer your dog a treat whenever he responds to the sit command. Eventually your dog will sit quietly whenever you give the treat. Using food treats to train your dog to sit has great results but it is very difficult to enforce since your dog will likely refuse food at first if he thinks you are trying to change his habits.
A good option for those that do not want to deal with food rewards is using a combination of training methods. You can begin by using the sit command and then offer a treat when your dog responds appropriately. You can continue to use the command and treat until your dog has consistently sat calmly whenever you have given the command. The sit command is harder to teach to dogs that are not accustomed to being trained. It may take several weeks or months of practice before you begin to see consistent results. Your dog will become well behaved when you consistently use the correct sit command coupled with positive reinforcement.