How to train a puppy to sit

From: Daniel J. Neumann

To: Prof. Yonker (Writing in Prof. Cultures)

When: 10/10/10

What: Technical Instructions for teaching a puppy to sit

Training a puppy to sit is an easy, cheap, and timely way to instill obedience into your new companion. Dogs love to eat treats and hear praise. Both activities release dopamine (the pleasure chemical) in their brains. Through association, the dog replicates the trick to earn the reward. In the same way, it’s best to ask your dog to sit verbally as well as through hand gestures, in case the dog can’t hear you for some reason. I like to raise my fist as a signal, but you can do whatever works.

1.      Hold the puppy’s favorite treat in your left hand (if you’re right handed).

2.      Call the puppy’s name until he or she complies.

3.      Let him or her smell the treat.

4.      Lock eyes.

5.      Elevate the treat over the puppy’s head.

6.      Drawing out the pronunciation, say, “Sit,” while extending your right fist.

7.      Gently apply pressure to the hind leg joint or push down on the puppy’s behind.

8.      If the dog sits, give audible praise and the treat.

For the first time, don’t try to make the puppy sit more than three times, or else he or she will get tired and likely forget the entire session. If the puppy doesn’t quite understand, don’t get frustrated or scold the animal. Stop the exercise immediately (putting away the treat) and try again later. As you train your puppy more, you can pronounce “Sit” shorter, only praise the success verbally, and not push down. Step #7 can be a juggle, since you’ve got to decide to use the hand with a treat in it or your fist to gently apply pressure on the dog to sit. Feel free to try permutations of this method.