How To Teach A Dog To Sit

Dogs are very smart animals. They are able to communicate with humans through body language and facial expressions.

Teaching them to obey commands is easier said than done. Dogs are highly trainable and they love learning new things.

When you get a dog it is really important that you start training them straight away. This doesn’t matter if it is a puppy or an older dog.

We’ve all heard of the phrase you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but I’m here to tell you that isn’t true.

It takes patience teaching your dog to be able to follow basic commands.

One of the first basic commands you should teach your dog is how to sit.

Luckily for you, we are going to go through the simple way you can encourage your dog to learn how to sit.

I have created a guide for you to follow each step, so you will have your dog sitting in no time at all.

Why Is It Important To Teach Your Dog To Sit?

You might be thinking that sitting is something that isn’t as interesting, fun, or even useful to teach your dog.

However, having your dog be able to sit on command is incredibly important and it is the basis of a lot of other tricks.

There are many different reasons why this is one of the most important commands to teach your dog.

Here are some of the main reasons why you need to teach your dog to sit:

Safety

If your dog is not trained to sit then they could injure themselves by getting into dangerous situations.

For example, when you are walking your dog and you are waiting to cross the road.

If your dog knows to follow the command ‘Sit’, then you know they will be safe on the sidewalk and will not try to walk into the road.

This command can prevent you and your dog from getting hurt.

Security

Having your dog sit also makes them more secure around other people. When your dog sits they show respect towards others.

They are showing that they are aware of their surroundings and are ready to listen to what other people say.

Socialization

By teaching your dog to sit you are giving them a chance to interact with other dogs as your dog is not jumping, mounting, or just generally being all over another dog.

You are allowing them to show off their manners and good behavior.

Control

The last reason why you need to teach a dog to sit is that it gives you control over your dog. You are able to keep your dog under control when they are sitting.

This means that you don’t have to worry about your dog jumping up on you or other people.

How To Teach Your Dog How To Sit

Now that we know why it is important to teach your dog how to sit, let us get on to how we can teach them. Follow these steps to successfully teach your dog how to sit.

Step One

The first thing you want to start off with is treats. Dogs love treats. There are many different kinds of treats for you to use so choose your dog’s favorite treat.

If you find that your dog is not interested in learning you may need to use a high-value treat to motivate them.

What we mean by high-value treats is something that is extra tasty and has a nice smell. This might be something like chicken or even peanut butter.

You may find that your dog is not food motivated, so instead of using food, you can try to use a toy to reward them or even pet them.

Step Two

Once you have chosen your dog’s favorite treat, you want to stand in front of your dog.

You need to make sure that your dog is aware that you have a treat so they are focused on you.

An important tip to remember is you want to train your dog in an area with no distractions. This will make for a more successful training session.

Step Three

Now that you are standing in front of your dog, you want to bring the treat to their nose.

Then from there move the treat from the dog’s nose to above your dog’s head. Your hand should be moving in an upwards motion.

Step Four

You should notice that as the treat reaches the top of their head, they lower their bottom to the ground.

Once their bottom touches the ground you should reward them with the treat.

If you are used to clicker training, the second their bottom touches the ground you should click your clicker.

Step Five

Now it is time to repeat. Each time your dog gets it right you should reward your dog.

We would recommend doing this for around 10 minutes, so your dog does not become bored.

When you notice your dog has started to get the hang of this command, you can start to add in the verbal cue.

Remember that your dog has been following a hand gesture so you should introduce the verbal cue with the hand gesture.

You will want to say the word ‘Sit’ and then use the hand gesture to get them to sit.

Step Six

Repeat step five until you feel confident your dog has associated the word sit with the sitting down.

After multiple successful attempts of sitting with the hand gesture and verbal cue, you can then test your dog by only saying the verbal cue.

Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t quite get it on the first go. Instead, keep using the verbal cue and hand gesture until they start to understand.

It might take you a week or so for your dog to understand the command ‘Sit’.

Even after your dog has learned this command you need to keep reinforcing it in regular training sessions.

Final Thoughts

Teaching your dog to sit has never been easier. All you really need to do is follow our simple steps and your dog will learn how to sit within no time at all.

It is important to note that this takes time and your dog will not be a master of this command in a day.

When it comes to training your dog, patience is key. Always keep your training sessions positive and exciting for your dog.

We hope that this guide has helped you out and that you now know how to teach your dog to sit. Please share this article with others who could benefit from it.

Thank you for reading!

For those of you who like a visual guide, this video explains everything so well.

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Daniel Johnson

Hi, my name is Daniel Johnson, and I am a professional dog trainer that specializes in positive training methods. I have worked with many dogs over the years, and have provided fantastic and improved results for both the owner and the dog.

When it comes to dog training, it is important for the owner to be taught the simple but correct techniques, and the way in which you communicate with your dog is vital to this process. I recently decided to set up this blog to share my knowledge and skills with a wider audience.

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