One of the most important skills in the process of training a dog is the command “sit”. Every owner wants to teach the pet to be attentive to the spoken phrase and to perform what he heard without mistakes. For this level, the command “sit” is first practiced gradually, and then endurance is trained, the ability to quickly show the next exercise and return to the position. For example, the command “sit” is often introduced into a complex consisting of basic skills. Such “instructions” are given in different orders, which allows you to work on the pet’s ability to quickly switch attention.
When thinking about how to teach a dog to sit, you need to consider that dog trainers give several options for performing the skill. In most cases, training to a sitting position is carried out using a treat. It is given on the condition that the command is fully executed and the dog is able not to change position until the owner’s command. That is, the pet takes the “treat” from the owner’s hands while sitting.
General tips for teaching the sit command
In order to achieve a successful result, training a dog to sit must meet the following requirements:
- The command is taught according to a pre-prepared algorithm. It is important that the owner takes some time to think about the scheme for learning the skill;
- Directions should be concise, given clearly and only once;
- After learning the command, be sure to work on endurance, attention to the owner, and spend time developing speed.
If you are preparing your pet for a show or want to teach the “sit” command without mistakes, you should pay attention to the correct positioning of your pet. At the same time, when training a dog to sit on command, you need to control each stage. There is no need to complicate the technique of the skill; it should have a maximum of four steps.
Teaching a dog to sit on command
Training a pet begins with simple, basic commands. The “sit” skill is usually one of the first to be learned, and requires the owner to understand how to communicate with the pet correctly. If there is the necessary level of trust between you, teaching the dog the “sit” command will be much easier. Often, building relationships between the pet and the owner occurs during training. This is your opportunity to find an approach to your pet, establish communication based on the principles of obedience and discipline.
In order to explain to the dog how to “sit” correctly, you first need to put it in this position. The second time, the command word is introduced. It is pronounced once. That is, the pet must form a “command-action” reflex. Such a conditioned connection is reinforced with encouragement.
There are several ways to get a dog to sit on command:
- Raise the food above the pet’s head. At first, you will need to press lightly on the dog’s sacrum. This way, it will understand when to sit down;
- Raise the pet’s head with the collar. When the animal is seated, the food is held in the hand;
- Press on the lower back while touching the pet’s knee. You need to show the food, move it up over the dog’s head and press on the pelvis. Lightly press on the knee of the hind leg.
As soon as you can perform the first stage of the command, introduce variable reinforcement. That is, you do not give food always, but after one or two executions. Summarizing the above, you can see that the algorithm for performing the skill is simple. It consists of a sequential combination of several stages. First, we tell the dog a command, then we wait for its execution and reinforce.
Teach your dog to sit on command with a gesture
Thanks to the works and observations of P.K. Anokhin, dog handlers have come to interesting conclusions. An effective way to exclude reinforcement when teaching a command can be “anticipatory reflection”. The point is that the pet experiences discomfort when you sit it down with your hands or by raising its head with a leash. Thus, the pet will strive to take the correct position as soon as it sees a raised hand above its head. Often, the gesture is an outstretched hand with the palm down. At the same time, it should be at the level of the owner’s shoulder.
You can also train a puppy to obey a command, but only after reaching 3-4 months. If your pet is learning commands and you want it to understand you without words, we recommend paying attention to performing the skill after the owner’s gesture.
What is important to consider when training
Once the dog has learned the command, you will need to work on endurance. Training this skill involves teaching the command to sit for some time after the pet has taken the necessary position. It is important to ensure that the dog learns not to get up until you give it a permission signal.
Subsequent training sessions involve practicing the skill as part of a single training session. Conducting one session allows you to pay attention to several skills at once. Usually, this is teaching a new command and repeating old ones. Such training is conducted at a pace that is convenient for the pet and the owner. For example, during training for the command “sit”, they repeat the previously learned “come to me”, “stand”, “next to”, “lie down”, “voice”. Everything depends on how you build your training process. In addition, it is important to determine the period required to learn a new command. Sometimes a skill can be learned in a week, in other cases – in two.
Do not try to achieve perfect execution of the command as quickly as possible. Devote training time acceptable for the dog. Thus, for puppies aged six months, dog training should not exceed 35 minutes. It is believed that the best result is achieved through regularity, systematicity, and the developed position of the owner himself. Communication with the dog takes place in a calm and confident tone.
When reinforcing the execution of a command, work on making the dog obey not only because of the desire to get a treat. It helps to practice giving a reward not every time, but after one or two executions.
Training with a pet can be very beneficial. If you try to give the training maximum attention, you will soon be able to notice a good result. This does not mean that all your free time should be devoted to learning skills. Improve interaction, teach your pet obedience and discipline through daily training. You can spend 30-50 minutes on training, the most important thing is to stick to the system.