How to Teach a Dog to Sit

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     Bringing home a new dog is an exciting experience. This new companion will learn many things during his or her first few days at home, and simple obedience skills should be at the top of the list. However, if you are a first time pet owner you may feel clueless about how to teach these obedience skills.

Sitting on command should be one of the first skills that a new dog learns, because it helps control the animal. Mature dogs and even young puppies can learn how to sit on command if they are taught correctly.

1. Get the dog's attention.

Your home is an entirely new setting for your dog, and it may take weeks of sniffing and exploring until your dog is accustomed to the new surroundings. In the meantime, you should begin teaching your dog how to sit. Begin by getting his attention with a treat. You can use anything from specially made dog treats to a couple kibbles of dog food. Just be sure that the treat is healthy for your animal. Show your pet the treat by placing it a few inches from his nose and let him get a good sniff. This will quickly get your dog's attention as he tries to figure out what he must do to get a taste.

2. Take advantage of the dog's natural motion.

Once your dog is focused on the treat, raise it above his head and move it toward his tail. Say the command, "sit" to teach the verbal cue. The dog will try to follow the treat and sit down as he tilts his head back. This is a much better method of teaching the sit command than forcefully pushing down on your dog's back. Pushing a dog that is not yet accustomed to you may provoke an aggressive response. Instead, move a treat around so that the dog sits without any physical contact from you.

3. Praise and reward.

Just like children, dogs thrive off of praise and positive reinforcement. When your dog successfully sits, offer the treat and give plenty of praise and encouragement. Be sure to cheer and speak with an excited voice to let your dog know how happy you are with him.

4. Repeat.

Once your dog sits, reinforce the behavior with repetition. Try to get your dog to sit several times in a row to drive home the new skill. When the dog begins to lose focus or get tired, take a break and come back later. Try to do several of these short training sessions per day until he masters the skill.

5. Do not confuse.

As you teach your dog to sit on command, be sure to clearly say, "sit" as you move the treat behind the dog's head. However, be careful not to say this word too much. Your dog is listening, and hearing the command too much during circumstances where he is not actively training will only confuse him. Only tell your dog to sit when you actually want him to.

6. Remove the treat.

Unless you want to carry a bag of dog food with you wherever you go, you must get your dog to obey your commands without a treat. After he has mastered the "sit" command, gradually wean him off treats by only offering occasional rewards. Eventually, your dog will obey you simply because you told him to rather than because he was offered a treat.

Obedience training is a great way to spend time with your dog and build the relationship. Teaching simple commands will not only improve your dog's behavior, but it will also help you to establish yourself as an authority figure and gain control over your pet. By using the steps above and being patient with your pet, you can teach your dog how to sit on command.