Teaching Sit

Overview

Sit is easy to lure, easy to reward, and works as a default polite behavior in dozens of situations — greeting people, before meals, at crosswalks, before doors open. Teach it well and it becomes the answer to "what should I do with my body?"

Why it matters

A dog who defaults to sit will not be jumping, pulling, or lunging. It's a swap, not just a cue.

Watch: demonstration

[VIDEO PLACEHOLDER] Luring a sit with a treat above the nose, then fading the lure. — trainer to attach a video via the admin uploader.

Step by step

1. Hold a treat at your dog's nose, palm up.

2. Slowly move it up and slightly back over their head — the bum should hit the floor.

3. The instant the bum touches, mark and treat.

4. After 5–10 reps with a lure, try the same hand motion without a treat, then reward from your other hand.

5. Once the hand signal works, add the word "sit" just before the motion.

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER] Hand position for the sit lure. — trainer to upload one or more still images.

Common mistakes

• Holding the treat too high — the dog jumps instead of sitting.

• Saying "sit sit sit" — cue once, wait 3 seconds, help if needed.

• Never fading the lure — you don't want to need a treat in your hand forever.

Practice this week

Get 20 sits a day in different rooms and body positions (standing, kneeling, sitting).