Tippy on How to Train a Dog to Sit

Bringing home my Saint Bernard puppy was the culmination of years of dreaming but, before long, I realized that training my big girl was essential to the survival of the entire household if we were to keep her. As Daisy grew quickly, it became imperative to teach her basic dog obedience to avoid having a 150-pound, out-of-control bulldozer running around the house.  

After attending a two-month puppy obedience course, Daisy earned her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) award. To find a certified obedience course, contact your local American Kennel Club (AKC) and ask about classes. While I could have bought one of many books on training, I wanted hands-on techniques and I wanted to watch a trainer in action. After an approved AKC obedience class, the dogs are tested on what they learned and, if they pass, they earn a CGC award, indicating that they know their stuff.

Sitting is one of the first commands a dog should learn and it’s one of the simplest to teach. It takes consistency and positive reinforcement.

I start with a pocketful of treats and a tired puppy. A puppy that is full of vim and vigor has a tough time concentrating on the task and it makes the training session more difficult. In addition, I try to wait until just before regular feeding time to ensure that the puppy has an appetite, increasing her desire to learn the command and get the treat.

The most important thing to remember is that training should be fun and rewarding for both dog and owner. If it isn’t, stop and try again another day.

Get your dog’s attention by standing directly in front of her. I use a leash, held in one hand, directly above her but once she gets the hang of what we’re doing, we work without the leash.

Hold a small treat in front of your dog’s nose while she’s standing still and facing you. Keep it just far enough away that she pays attention to it but not so close that she lunges for it.

Move the treat backwards, towards the top of her head and issue the one-word command, “Sit.” By moving the treat farther back over her head, you force her to tilt her head slightly upwards, causing her to arch her spine and put downward pressure on her back hips. Some dogs will sit automatically when you do this while others may leap at the treat or revert their gaze back to you.

As soon as your dog sits down, give her the treat, praise her with ear scratches and tell her what a good dog she is.

Although this is a very effective way to train a dog to sit, some dogs need a little additional help. Avoid placing your hand on your dog’s hind end and pushing downward. In a puppy, this can cause permanent hip damage, especially in large-breeds with a tendency towards hip dysplasia.

There’s a much safer way to prompt your dog to sit. Grab your dog gently but firmly by the back of his leg where it bends inward, just above the hock. Apply steady inward pressure, causing the dog to bend his back leg and sit on his haunches.

Train your dog to sit by issuing the command, “Sit,” one time only. If the treat does not bring about the required response, grab his hind leg and help him to a sitting position but don’t tell the dog to sit more than one time. She heard you the first time and if you tell her to sit seven times, she will quickly learn that she has plenty of time to comply with your commands.

Eventually, wean your dog from the treats but continue to praise her when she sits.

Consistency is the key to long-term success. Any time you’re teaching your dog a new command, try to practice at least twice a day, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Taking the trouble to train you dog properly is well worth it. And you’ll find, as I did, that a well-behaved dog is a happy dog.