- Dogs follow food with their noses. If you hold a tasty treat in one fist, let them sniff the fist and then raise the fist up over their noses and slight backwards toward the dog's eyes; the dog will lift his nose to follow your hand. In order to keep following the food, he has to sit. As soon as the hindquarters hit the floor, give him the treat and verbally praise him. Repeat this, introducing the word "Sit" as a command. Keep doing the same hand gesture so that the dog learns both a visual and word cue.
- According to "The KISS Guide to Raising a Puppy," (Liz Palika, 2004) the "Sit" verbal cue can be reinforced by holding the dog's food bowl in the same way and not putting down the bowl until a dog is sitting. This can also be reinforced with a favorite toy such as a tennis ball. Only throw the ball when the dog has accomplished a sit. Give rewards immediately upon the dog sitting down so that he can equate the act of sitting with a reward.
- Eventually, sitting can be combined with a stay so that the dog learns a sit-stay. Begin by having the dog in a collar and lead. Have the dog sit and then take one step to the side. If the dog gets up, just ask for a sit again and reward when he sits still as you take a step. In a few sessions, you should be able to walk around the dog while he is sitting. You can also have the dog remain sitting when you are bending over, doing jumping jacks or jogging in place. Do it first with the lead on and then the lead off inside the home, then outside in the yard and then during a walk. Keep remembering to use the verbal cue or a visual cue so that eventually you can tell the dog to sit and stay, which may be useful for dog sports or if the dog gets loose and is about to cross a busy street.
