Sits Classroom

The SIT is a stationary position that your dog will use in everyday life and/or in competitions such as obedience, agility or rally as well as many more. There are 2 types of sit. A TUCK SIT is when your dog plants his front feet and brings his rear end forward as he is sitting. Some dogs naturally perform tuck sits, but other dogs naturally do what is called a ROCK sit. In a ROCK sit, the dog lowers his rear and his front feet move backwards when in the process of sitting. Either sit is usable for everyday situations. However, for competition, where your dog has to come to front, finish, halt during heeling, etc., a ROCK SIT will cause your dog to be out of heel position and the points will be taken off for it. A rock sit will cause your dog to be either too far back when at your side or too far away from you when in front.

Visualization
Ideally whichever sit you teach, the tuck and or the rock sit (I call it a Pledge Sit), your dog will sit quickly when requested and remain there until released.
Pledge SitTuck Sit

Sit – for every day life.

Before you begin check out and have ready any equipment you may need for the class. Treats, Toys, Collar, Leash etc.

Go to top

PDF Files to help your training!

Points to Remember Sit PDF

Problem Solving Sit PDF

Training Log Sit PDF

Questions? Ask DebbyQ

End Goal – For your dog to sit quickly when asked. Ideally your dog will remain focused on you and in an “active” state while in the sit.

STEPS TO SUCCESS

This methods uses the “Pledge of Allegiance Salute” for your sit signal.

  • Have a treat in your right hand.
  • Let your dog see the treat.
  • Move your right hand with the food in it slowly past your dog’s nose.
  • As you move your right hand upwards, your dog will sit.
  • Add a SIT command as your dog sits.
  • Once your dog is seated, praise him and immediately reward him with multiple food treats (pausing between each treat that is given).
  • Your dog should remain in a sit until your give him a release word. If he gets up before he is released, simply mark this behavior as incorrect and then give him another signal to sit and continue as instructed above.
  • In the beginning, use very high value treats that your dog does not normally receive during the day, like left over steak, chicken, etc.
  • Vary the length of time your dog remains in a sit before being released.
  • Make the sit position highly rewarding for your dog. This will give your dog an alternative behavior instead of jumping up on someone or something.

 

Reminder
Once trained, the SIT must be randomly rewarded to be maintained and to assure a quick response from your dog.


• Be sure to reward your dog’s efforts when teaching the sit.
• Praise and feed your dog when your dog is in the sit.
• Wean off the food lure.

Go to top

Before progressing to your next class –

Does your DOG?

  • Sit when you signal?
  • Sit when you give him a verbal command?
  • Have you weaned off the lure (treats)?

Enjoy teaching sits to your dog!

Questions? Click to Email ME, DebbyQ

The Tuck SIT

Before you begin check out and have ready any equipment you may need for the class. Treats, Toys, Collar, Leash etc.

Go to top

PDF Files to help your training!

Points to Remember Sit PDF

Problem Solving Sit PDF

Training Log Sit PDF

End Goal – For your dog to quickly tuck sit when asked. Ideally your dog will remain focused on you and in an “active” state while he is in the sit.

STEPS TO SUCCESS

To teach a sit, I use a small piece of food to lure my dog into a sit. The position of my (and your) hand in relation to the dog’s nose is very important. I hold the food an inch or less above my dog’s nose.

Teaching the skill
To begin this exercise,

  • Have your dog standing in front of you and facing to your right.
  • Hold a large visible food treat between your thumb and forefinger of your right hand.
  • Hold the food treat at your dog’s nose so that your dog is encouraged to hold his head at an angle pointed upward.
  • Move the treat slightly away from your dog so that your dog is stretching towards it.
  • While your dog is stretching, run your left hand down his back and tuck his hindquarters forward.
  • As your dog sits, say your sit word.
  • As soon as he is sitting, praise him and let him nibble on the treat.
  • Make sure your dog continues to have his weight shifted forward a bit and is “stretching to nibble the treat.
  • Do 2-3 tuck sits in a row and then energize and release your dog up for a toy or treat with the Jump to the Hand or Cookie Toss game.
  • Practice the sit several times a day. This is especially easy to do while watching Television during the commercials.
  • Once your dog is sitting regularly, begin to wean off the treats by randomly rewarding your dog.

Reminder
Once trained, your dog’s SIT must be randomly rewarded in order to be maintained and to assure a quick response to your command.


• Be sure to reward your dog’s best efforts and release and play frequently.
• Praise and feed your dog when working on sits.
• Wean off the food lure.

 

Go to top

Before progressing to your next class –

Does your DOG?

  • Sit quickly when asked?
  • Have you weaned off the lure (treats)?
  • Is your dog doing a tuck sit?
Go to top