How to Teach Your Dog To Sit
Training your dog can be a very rewarding activity and this is one of the great ways to build a strong bond with your canine friend. Most dogs can easily be trained by their owners, especially if the dog does not need a lot of behavior medication. If you have a puppy, you’ll likely have an easier time training him or her.
First things first. Make sure that you have a healthy pup on your hands, since a stressed-out pup is in no way in any condition for training. You can easily do this prior to every puppy training session by giving your pup a ‘hands-on’ exam to feel for lumps, bumps, cuts, bruises, or any tender areas. It is important that you check the pads of his paws and in between his toes. Cuts in these areas can be easily overlooked. You can do this while grooming or petting your dog. Not only will this tune you in on any thing that needs immediate vet attention, it is also a great way to bond with your dog.
The most popular trick among dog owners is teaching the puppy to sit. This is one of the easiest tricks that you can teach your dog and one great way to boost your dog’s confidence. Starting with an easy trick such as this is also a great way to build a foundation for more difficult tricks in the future.
You can do this by looking for a quiet location that has the fewest distractions possible. You can use a treat or a clicker if you are teaching this treat. Any other form of positive reinforcement will also do. Also, remember to keep a solid eye contact with your pooch, which will help keep his attention on you. You can use the clicker to keep his attention on you at all times.
Start the process by using simple motions first. Dangle a treat over his nose. Your dog may sit at this point; if not, give him a gentle nudge on the backside to give him an idea of what you want him to do. If he does sit down, reward him with the dog treat and praise him cheerfully. Do this a couple of times more so that your dog will get used to the idea that sitting down equals a treat and a little of loving from you.
Once your dog gets the hang of things you can add a few words, like “Sit” or “Sit down” before you do the above steps. If he still obeys reward him again with a treat and a pat or a hug. Say the words a couple of times and reward him appropriate until he sits down immediately after you say the word.
Keep your dog training sessions short so as not to exhaust your pet. You can have a go at it after a few hours and make sure that your command and rewards are consistent. Keep praising your dog once he performs satisfactorily. Soon you’ll have your dog sitting to this simple command with no effort at all.
Have a great "dog training" day,
Dr. Alfonso
