There are many uses for the SIT command. We make Gracie work for almost everything we give her, whether it be a toy, treat or even her dinner.
Gracie has to SIT:
at the door, before bolting out into the yard
to put her leash and/or collar on
for her dinner
for treats
for toys
during a game of fetch, before I toss the toy again
before getting into the car
before getting out of the car
before crossing the street
There are tons of uses for this basic command. Below is how I taught Gracie to SIT when she was a puppy. She learned to SIT when she was around 8-10 weeks old. It was the first command I taught her during her first couple of weeks in her new home.
1. I got some really tasty treats (For example: boiled hot dog cut into tiny pieces is her favorite)
2. I got her attention by saying her name and talking to her
3. I put a treat to close to her nose
4. I moved the treat up over her head and lured her into the SIT position while verbally saying the command "SIT"
5. Once she was in the SIT position, I quickly gave her the treat as a reward
I repeated these steps about five times in a row, then gave her a break. I did this a couple of times a day about 3-4 times per week. It is very important to be patient and consistent when training your dog.
Developing a great relationship with your dog involves communicating with him or her in a fun and positive way.
Comments