How to Teach Your Dog to Sit

Teaching your dog how to sit on command is one of the simplest behaviors you can teach and it's usually the first command in basic obedience training. Sitting can be a useful behavior for many situations, but the training process is also the beginning of establishing relationship roles between you and your dog. Once your dog learns to sit on command you will have his attention, which will make future training that much easier. Certain methods typically work better for puppies while others are more suited for older, less energetic dogs.


Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Establishing a Training Environment

  1. Dogs, especially puppies, have a limited attention span and are easily distracted. Keep this in mind during the training process and know that you will have to take it slow at first. Give your dog breaks to allow him to fully focus during the training sessions. [1]
  2. The training environment should be an area that the dog is comfortable with that is relatively free from distractions.
    • A room indoors can be an ideal place, where you have more control over the dog’s activity level and can confine him to better focus his attention.
    • Be sure to let other people in the house know that you will be working with the dog, so that they avoid introducing distractions that could interfere with the training session.
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  3. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Outdoor training sessions offer a much less controlled environment and many more distractions. Training outdoors also limits your ability to confine the dog and thus maintain his focus.
    • If you must train outside, you will either need a secure area to prevent your dog from running off or use a leash for control. This can greatly limit the effectiveness of training techniques and can make training much more difficult.
  4. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    If your dog starts the training session strong—paying attention to you, responding to your commands, and participating in the training—but then starts getting distracted, take a break. Your dog may be getting overwhelmed. You might need to find a less distracting environment or make your training sessions shorter to start with (5 minutes instead of 10 minutes, for instance).
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using the Treat Trick

  1. Because you will be giving your dog many treats during training, you should opt for very small treats. You can also use healthy human foods that are good for dogs, such as pieces of apple, carrot, green beans, or chicken. [2] If the dog you are working with is overweight, you may be able to find a reduced calorie or diet treat, or even use individual pieces of diet dog food.
    • Always check to be sure that human food is dog-safe. There are many foods such as grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions, or avocados that can be harmful to dogs.
  2. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    As with the teaching of all behaviors, the first step is to get your dog's full attention. This is best accomplished by standing directly in front of your dog with him facing you, so that he is completely focused on you and can see and hear you clearly.
  3. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Hold a treat in your hand so that he knows you have it, but also so that he cannot nip it from your hand. He will be very curious about how he should go about getting the treat from your hand. You should now have his full attention.
  4. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Keep the treat very close to the dog’s nose, then slowly raise it over the top of his head. He'll follow the treat with his eyes and nose, looking upward and in the process placing his bottom on the ground.
    • You'll need to hold the treat close enough to the dog's head so that he won't try to jump up to get it. Keep it low enough to the ground that he'll sit.
    • If your dog’s bottom isn’t fully reaching the ground, you can help by gently easing him into a full sit position while keeping the treat in the same position.
    • If your dog tries to back up to follow the treat rather than raising his head and sitting, try the treat trick indoors in a corner to start with. This will limit the dog’s ability to move backwards, and may facilitate the sitting. [3]
    EXPERT TIP

    David Levin

    Professional Dog Trainer
    David Levin is the Owner of Citizen Hound, a professional dog walking business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 9 years of professional dog walking and training experience, David's business has been voted the "Best Dog Walker SF" by Beast of the Bay for 2019, 2018, and 2017. Citizen Hound has also been ranked #1 Dog Walker by the SF Examiner and A-List in 2017, 2016, 2015. Citizen Hound prides themselves on their customer service, care, skill, and reputation.
    David Levin
    Professional Dog Trainer

    Our Expert Agrees: To get your dog to sit, hold a treat in your hand, then move the treat up and over the dog's head. Allow the dog to follow the treat with their nose until their head goes so far back that they angle their back end down to try to reach it even further, eventually touching their butt to the ground.

  5. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    When your dog’s rear end makes contact with the ground, say “sit” in a firm voice, then immediately offer him the treat as a reward for sitting.
    • Try to limit your verbalization. If the dog doesn’t sit right away, don’t say “no, sit” or introduce other commands. If you limit your speech to just the command and the praise, the command word will stand out more clearly to your dog. [4]
    EXPERT TIP

    David Levin

    Professional Dog Trainer
    David Levin is the Owner of Citizen Hound, a professional dog walking business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 9 years of professional dog walking and training experience, David's business has been voted the "Best Dog Walker SF" by Beast of the Bay for 2019, 2018, and 2017. Citizen Hound has also been ranked #1 Dog Walker by the SF Examiner and A-List in 2017, 2016, 2015. Citizen Hound prides themselves on their customer service, care, skill, and reputation.
    David Levin
    Professional Dog Trainer

    Consider waiting to form the association with the word 'Sit' until the dog sits consistently. Often, trainers will wait to associate a word with an action until the action is being reliably performed, lest you accidentally pair that word with an incorrect behavior while the dog is figuring it out. In addition, staying quiet brings down the energy so your dog can think more clearly. By allowing your dog to solve the puzzle on their own, you'll unlock more of its potential.

  6. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Reinforce the treat reward with praise; rub his head and use words such as "good boy". This reinforces the fact that he did something that pleased you. Do this every time your dog completes the sit action during the training session. [5]
  7. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    You can release your dog from the sit command by using a command word such as "release" or "free" while taking a step back and encouraging him to come to you.
  8. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    After a while he may get bored, so take a break and resume training another time. Aim for at least 2-3 short training sessions every day. [6] It will likely take 1-2 weeks of consistent training for your dog to catch on. [7]
  9. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    When you first start training with the treat trick, give your dog a treat each time he sits. Be sure you always offer enthusiastic praise as well. After a week or two, when your dog is reliably sitting for treats, offer the treats intermittently but continue to offer praise. You will (slowly) work towards getting the dog to sit with your hand signal and the “sit” command with no treat, then with only the “sit” command. [8]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Offering Physical Guidance

  1. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    This method is used to give you better control over the dog that you’re working with, and it’s better suited for very active dogs.
    • The key to working with unruly dogs is to maintain control with the use of a leash and harness and to reinforce positive behavior. Negative behaviors during training should be ignored; if you respond to them, you are reinforcing them. [9]
  2. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    You need your dog's attention and for him to stay in place during the training session. Using a leash will help you to accomplish this and keep him close to your side. If you strongly prefer not to work with a leash, you can still use this method to train your dog as long as he will stay by your side. [10]
    • Hold the leash taut so that your dog is close to you, but not so tight that it makes him uncomfortable.
    • You may need to try different types of harnesses or collars to find what works for training your dog. A head halter or a harness that attaches at the dog’s chest rather than on his back may offer you more control over the dog’s movements and behavior. [11]
  3. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    You will help him lower from the standing position to the sitting position by very gently pushing on the area directly above his rear legs. He may be confused at first, but after a moment he'll get the picture and sit.
    • Don't force your dog to sit. Pushing him too hard could scare him or hurt him.
    • Never hit or spank your dog. You won't teach him how to sit this way; you'll only teach him to fear you.
    • If the dog fights you and refuses to sit, try walking him around on the leash a bit to “reset” the sit session, then stop try to ease him into the sit again.
  4. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Keep your hand in place for about 30 seconds so that he associates the position of sitting with your command.
  5. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    You should repeat this process several more times, rewarding and praising your dog for each successful sit attempt. Continue guiding him to the sitting position with your hand for as long as necessary until he learns to sit with only your voice command.
  6. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    If your dog is consistently resistant to the sitting position, you should try moving to a different surface that your dog may be more comfortable on. You can also try taking a break and trying again later after giving your dog a period of “quiet time”.
  7. With an especially energetic dog, it can take weeks of practice until he gets the hang of sitting on command. To help in calming your dog and speeding up this process, remember to remain calm yourself and speak in a calm voice. You can also try scheduling your training sessions during a time when distractions are minimized and after the dog has had plenty of exercise and is hopefully less energetic.
    EXPERT TIP

    David Levin

    Professional Dog Trainer
    David Levin is the Owner of Citizen Hound, a professional dog walking business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 9 years of professional dog walking and training experience, David's business has been voted the "Best Dog Walker SF" by Beast of the Bay for 2019, 2018, and 2017. Citizen Hound has also been ranked #1 Dog Walker by the SF Examiner and A-List in 2017, 2016, 2015. Citizen Hound prides themselves on their customer service, care, skill, and reputation.
    David Levin
    Professional Dog Trainer

    Try repeating the training in a variety of different situations. Understanding the mechanics of a behavior is only the first stage of learning, so don't stop training just because your dog responds to a command to sit. To ensure the dog is fluent in what sitting really means, try changing variables, like being in a different room, outside, and around other dogs when you give the command.

  8. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Once your dog will sit regularly with your assistance, it is time to try without your help. With your dog still on the leash, practice saying "sit" when your dog is standing without using your hand on his lower back. Initially, continue to reward him each time he sits on command eventually progressing to where he will sit on command without needing a treat. [12]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Praising the Dog's Natural Behavior

  1. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    This method is less likely to be effective with a puppy, but works well with older dogs who have a relatively calm demeanor.
  2. It's best to start your dog's training in a home environment with limited distractions. Work indoors in a relatively small area, but allow the dog to move around freely.
    • Remember that this is a time for training and not just observing. You should remain calm and try not to alter your dog's natural behavior.
  3. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Do not do anything to coax your dog into sitting, but allow him to move around freely until he sits on his own.
  4. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    and reward the dog immediately. Be sure that you say “sit” and give the reward the moment the dog's bottom drops to the ground. Speak clearly and in a friendly tone. Reward the dog by petting him on the head and saying "good boy!" or giving him a small treat.
    • Avoid yelling at the dog in a stern voice. Dogs don't respond well to negative reinforcement.
  5. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    In order for your dog to learn to associate the act of sitting with the word "sit," you'll have to practice often. Try staying close to your dog for half an hour to an hour, using the above technique to train your dog each time he sits.
  6. Watch
    Watermark wikiHow to Teach Your Dog to Sit
    Once you have successfully trained the dog to understand what the word “sit” means, work on getting him to sit when you ask him to. When he follows your instructions, reward him right away. Continue practicing until he is able to sit on command without needing a treat.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I stop my dog from thinking his training leash is a tug toy?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Have him sit before putting the leash on. Only clip the leash on when he is sitting and when he goes to grab the leash tell him "Stop" in a firm voice. Then distract him with a toy that is appropriate to play tug with.
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 44
  • Question
    My dog only sits on carpet or a blanket, how do I get him to sit on tiles or wood flooring?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Some dogs really dislike the coldness of tiles or wooden flooring and are reluctant to sit there. Another factor can be if you trained the dog in specific rooms, and now he thinks he only has to sit when in those rooms. Be aware he may not like the cold surface, (perhaps warm it before hand with a hot water bottle) and persist with training as you did when first teaching "Sit."
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 27
  • Question
    My German shepherd sits as soon as he realizes I've got a treat in my hand. How do I make sure he responds only to the 'sit' command and doesn't just associate treats with sitting?
    Community Answer
    Start giving him treats when he does other good things instead of just sitting and make sure when you do give him the treat he isn't sitting. Also, every so often, try the sit command without a treat and a reward of praise.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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      Video

      Tips

      • Praise your dog every time it performs the command correctly.
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      • Don't hit or yell at your dog if he/she doesn't get it right the first time. Keep practicing and try not to get frustrated.
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      • Love your dog and have patience. You will need to do this many times before he gets it.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2085&aid=173
      2. ↑ http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/dog-nutrition/Dog-Approved-People-Food
      3. ↑ http://www.raisingspot.com/training/basic-dog-training-sit
      4. ↑ http://www.raisingspot.com/training/basic-dog-training-sit
      5. ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/teaching-your-dog-sit
      6. ↑ http://www.nylabone.com/dog-101/training-behaviors/obedience-training/
      7. ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/teaching-your-dog-sit
      8. ↑ http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/dog_training_positive_reinforcement.html
      9. ↑ http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/disobedient-unruly-and-excitable-dogs/160
      1. ↑ http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1574
      2. ↑ http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/disobedient-unruly-and-excitable-dogs/160
      3. ↑ http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_5/features/Training-Hyperactive-Dogs_20259-1.html

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      The easiest way to teach your dog to sit is by using the treat trick. Choose very small treats to use for this trick, then capture your dog’s attention. Show the dog the treat, then move it from the dog’s nose to behind it’s head. Tell the dog to sit, and reward it with the treat if it complies. For tips from our Veterinary reviewer on how to establish a training environment, offer physical guidance, and praise the dog’s natural behavior, read on!

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