When training a dog, it’s always better to begin with the fundamentals of how to teach a dog to sit pretty. Once your dog masters sitting, it will go beyond learning to down, stay, or rollover. But many pet owners find it challenging to keep their dogs seated. Continue reading our Canvas Personalized post to learn the best tips and cues for sit pretty dog trick.
1. Learn How To Teach A Dog To Sit
What You’ll Need
- A comfortable space
- A pouch for carrying tasty treats during training
- A clicker (or marker word, like “yes!” if you’re not using a clicker)
- 15 to 20 minutes per day
- Patience
- Enthusiasm
Luring Dog Sitting Positions Method
Because sitting is fundamental, ensure your dog stays on command before moving to other desired positions. As a result, the most common dog training tip is the lure and reward your dog’s favorite treats. Moreover, training should occur when your dog is calm and has no distractions. Let’s check out these steps below now!
Part 1: Lure Your Dog Into A Sit Position
The luring method uses rewards (such as tasty treats) to help you teach a dog to sit or other desired behaviors. Present the treat before the dog’s nose and get him into a sitting position by timing when its bottom meets the ground. The problem is that your dog will become dependent on you having a treat in your hand if the training is going well. So the goal of this part is to fade the food lure away and make your dog sit on its own.
- Step 1: Hold a treat in your hand with your palm facing up and move it in front of your dog’s mouth and nose until you get their attention.
- Step 2: Once your dog notices your treat, slowly raise it up and slightly behind the dog’s head. Following a treat’s scent, your dog’s butt will drop to the ground gradually.
- Step 3: Once your dog sits on the ground, say “Yes” or use a clicker to praise your dog’s happiness.
- Step 4: Reward your dog with a treat, and then repeat the above steps to let your dog know this was the correct behavior. By saying “Good Sit,” your dog will get used to sitting whenever it hears “sit” and continue acting like this.
- Step 5: When your dog is used to following the treat into a sitting position, you can use an empty hand to lure your dog and give it pleasure from your other hand. Hence, now is the time to fade out the hand lure and move on to new methods to teach a dog to sit.
- Step 6: Once your dog understands what you mean when you move the lure or sit without the entire hand lure, it’s a chance to add a hand signal and use verbal cues to train your dog to sit independently.
*Pro Tips:
Never intimidate or confuse your dog by pushing it down on its rear end. Luring your dog from the down position is possible if it has trouble understanding what you are asking. Your dog will initially be lying on the ground, and their position will gradually shift into sitting. Then, consistently reward your dog when in a desirable position, such as sitting.
>>>Once your dog understands and sits perfectly on command, check out these easy ways to teach your dog to lay down for beginners!
Part 2: Use Hand Signal
In this part, the treat should only appear when your dog sits alone without being lured with a treat in hand.
- Step 1: Hold an empty hand and place your open palm before the dog’s nose.
- Step 2: Raise your hand upward, which will cause your dog’s butt to go down and its nose to go up.
- Step 3: Praise your dog by saying “Yes”; or “Good Sit” or using a clicker as soon as they sit.
- Step 4: Keep your dog sitting as long as possible, and you should take the treat without making them move. If your dog gets up immediately, you should use a hand signal to ask them to sit again and only then give them the treat.
- Step 5: Please do so at least five more times before your dog understands that this hand signal equals the sitting position.
Part 3: Add A Verbal Cue On How To Train A Dog To Sit
Whenever your dog successfully responds to your hand signal, you can begin using the verbal cue “Sit.”
- Step 1: Say “Sit” and raise your empty hand, palm up, as the hand gesture simultaneously.
- Step 2: Reward your dog with a treat or click as usual once your dog has been in the sit position for 5–10 seconds. Then repeat it five times.
- Step 3: Continue to say “Sit” and wait for your dog to recognize your request to sit.
- Step 4: If your dog understands and sits, reward them, treat them immediately, and say, “Good Sit.” If not, show the hand signal again while saying “sit” and reward later.
- Step 5: Keep doing it until your dog reliably sits when you say “sit” without first showing them that hand signal.
Capture Dog Sitting Positions Method
Capturing your dog’s sitting position is another method to teach a dog to sit without using your hand to “lure” them. Once your dog sits on request, you can easily teach the dog to shake hands, to heel, or to other desired positions. When your dog is about to sit for a treat, you can give a verbal cue by saying “Sit” or clicking. As a result, reward and give them a treat once your dog has sat in response to your line.
- Step 1: Get your clicker and some treats ready.
- Step 2: Click whenever your dog spontaneously gives a sit without any prompting from you.
- Step 3: Reward your dog after every click by tossing a treat safely away without getting out of their sitting position. Then give them a new chance to offer a new sit.
- Step 4: Repeat it at least 5 times daily or more if you’re learning how to teach a puppy to sit!
*Pro Tips:
When your dog is willing to sit whenever you ask, it’s time to use the verbal cue. Say “sit” while your dog is seated, click, and treat, just as you did with the lure method. Gradually, the clicker and treats can be eliminated as you move on to practice in different training processes.
2. Advanced Method: How To Teach Your Dog To Sit Pretty
Sit Pretty Dog Trick
Once your dog has mastered sitting, you can teach the “Sit Pretty” trick. If you want your dog to sit well, follow these instructions.
- Step 1: Ask your dog to sit.
- Step 2: Raise your treat near their nose and slowly pull it away. When your dog jumps to get it, you should click and reward it as soon as its front paws leave the ground.
- Step 3: Repeat step 2, but you must raise the treat to a higher position. Then continue raking your dog until it can sit as nicely as you desire.
- Step 4: Once your dog gets used to it, you can replace the treat with an empty hand. Repeat this step and keep rewarding your dog whenever your dog sits pretty.
- Step 5: When your dog understands the hand signal to “sit pretty,” you can start using a verbal cue, such as “Sit Pretty” or “Beg”. Then, repeat it at least 5 times per day.
*Pro tips:
If your dog has trouble staying upright, use your forearm to help them get its bearings. Gradually, your dog will learn a pretty sit behavior and a cute trick.
How To Train A Dog To Sit In Different Places
The opportunity to take your dog outside for practice is when they are sitting on request only using a verbal cue. Because there is a lot of distraction from the outside environment, it can be difficult for your dog to focus on what you’re saying. So this advanced method will get your dog’s attention if they want your treat and reward.
*Pro tips
If you’re having trouble training a dog to sit because they’re too distracted, try moving away from it before asking again. If it doesn’t work, you may give them more appealing treats or use toys and play as a reward if your dog finds it more interesting.
Training A Dog To Sit As A Default Behavior
A dog’s actions without a prompt from its owner or handler are called “default behaviors.” Imagine how great it would be if your dog sat on request instead of jumping on people or running amok. Obviously, the more you teach a dog to sit, the more likely it is to sit without prompting.
Of course, the best way to encourage your dog to sit when asked is to give them a treat or reward them. Further, these treats are a great way to show your dog’s appreciation and build positive behavior. So, your dog will start offering to sit whenever it wants something, which will become a good default behavior.
>>>Check out more helpful dog training tips to make your dog learn tricks easily!
3. Things to Avoid On How To Teach A Puppy To Sit
- You must practice patience and enthusiasm first, no matter what you offer to train your dog.
- Make your training process short every day. Set aside 15-20 minutes daily to get good results and keep your dog comfortable.
- Never get frustrated with your dog in any circumstance.
- Always ask your dog to sit positively and happily.
- Please do not put your dog in a stressful environment where you must force it to sit, and never make it sit for extended periods.
- If your dog has previously suffered a painful condition or injury, don’t ask them to sit.
>> Further reading:
- How To Teach A Dog To Roll Over Quickly In 3 Easy Parts?
- How To Teach A Dog To Smile: Easy Tricks In 6 Steps
- How To Teach A Dog To Come When Called In 4 Foolproof Steps?
- How To Teach A Dog Its Name In 4 Foolproof Steps-New Tricks
As the first step in training, having your dog learn to sit is a terrific idea for building good habits. Furthermore, teach a dog to sit is essential for controlling its behavior and keeping him safe. With our Canvas Personalized steps and pro tips, training your dog’s sitting behavior isn’t as difficult as you think. We hope you will find this post helpful.
