Welcome to Four Paws Elkhound Rescue

A Norwegian Elkhound and Snow Dog Rescue

INFORMATION

Simple Training Tip:

S - Say it - Get the dogs attention and say the word “sit”

I - Indicate it - With a hand gesture, with or without treats

T - Tell it - Tell the dog they’re the best dog ever

One of the first behaviors you’ll teach your dog is to sit. After all, if your dog is sitting, they can’t be jumping on you or running around the house. But many dog owners struggle to get their dogs to stay seated. Dogs often pop back up only moments after placing their rear ends on the ground. Other times, dogs refuse to sit at all. If you’re struggling to get a solid sit from your dog, read on for tips and a fun trick.

Steps to Teach Your Dog to Sit

The most popular way to teach sit is with lure and reward training using a handful of delicious treats. A clicker can also help mark the exact moment your dog sits. To guarantee success, train when your dog is relaxed in an environment without distractions.

The following steps will help you to lure a sit:

With your dog standing, hold a treat to their nose.
Slowly lift the treat over their head and towards their rear. As your dog lifts their head to follow the treat with their nose, their back end should drop to the ground.
As soon as your dog is in a sitting position, click your clicker and/or praise them and offer the treat as a reward.
To get your dog standing again, either walk away and call them over or toss another treat a few feet away. Then, repeat the first three steps.
Once your dog reliably follows the treat into a sitting position, it’s time to fade the lure. Use an empty hand to lure the dog and reward the sit with a treat from your other hand. The movement of your empty hand will become your hand signal.
When your dog reliably sits for your empty hand, you can add your verbal cue (“sit”) right before you give the hand signal. In time, your dog should respond to the verbal cue alone.

Tips for Training Your Dog to Sit

Avoid pushing down your dog’s hind end. That can be intimidating and confusing. Also, be sure to present the treat while your dog is sitting to reinforce that position. If you wait until your dog is standing again, or even lure them inadvertently back to a stand as you search for a treat, you will encourage your dog to pop out of their sit right after their rear hits the ground.

Information from: The American Kennel Club Teach Your Dog to Sit: Help Your Dog Learn This Important Skill (akc.org)

Take it slowly. Dogs, especially puppies, have a limited attention span and are easily distracted. Keep this in mind during the training process and know that you will have to take it slow at first. Give your dog breaks to allow him to fully focus during the training sessions.[

Information from: 4 Ways to Teach Your Dog to Sit - wikiHow Pet