Overview

'Sit' is one of the most useful commands, as well as one of the easiest to teach. A dog can never get in trouble--pulling, jumping on visitors, running into the street--when he's sitting.

Steps to teaching "sit"

1. Find a quiet spot free of distractions.
2. Get your puppy's attention by saying his name and waggling a food treat in front of his nose.
3. When he turns toward you say, "Sit", and slowly raise your hand ever so slightly, keeping it as close to his nose as possible.
4. As his head rises to follow the treat, his bottom will automatically sit down. As soon as his bottom hits the floor say, "Yes" in an upbeat, happy tone and reward him with a bit of food.
5. Repeat several times.
6. Gradually make it more challenging by adding, one at a time, the three D's: duration, distance, and distraction. First, duration: each time your pooch sits on command, on the next try add one second to the delay between when his rump hits the floor and when you deliver the reward. Then, distance: stand one step further away from your puppy each time you give the command. Finally, add in distractions, such as facing a different direction or bouncing a ball when you give the command.
7. Go slowly when adding challenges, and if your puppy ever goofs, go back a step until he's getting it right again.

DogTime tip: Resist the temptation to push on your puppy's back to force him into a sit. Thanks to something called the opposition reflex, he'll just brace against the pressure. It's much easier to lure him into position by raising high a treat or toy.

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Veterinarian and animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar and his wife, dog trainer Kelly Dunbar, collaborate on DogStarDaily.com, OpenPaw.org, and DogTime, where they serve as contributing editors. They're dedicated to strengthening the bond between people and their dogs through training in order to keep dogs in their original homes and out of shelters.

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