How to Teach a Dog to Sit

Teaching your dog to sit is one of the most important commands for your canine friend to know. It makes greeting people easier for you whenever you are with your dog because they’re less likely to jump up on someone when meeting them. Teaching your dog to sit will also help to keep them safe and close to you when you’re out. 

However, while the “sit” command may seem simple, many people struggle when it comes to figuring out how to teach a dog to sit because they either use the wrong teaching techniques or try to rush the process. Teaching your dog to sit is just like teaching your dog any other command— you have to reward them and use the proper sit training techniques.

If you’re having a hard time teaching your dog to sit, or just are curious about how to train a dog to sit, keep reading to know important tips and tricks to help ease the process.

• Steps to Teach a Dog to Sit
• How Long Does it Take to Teach a Dog to Sit?
• Tools to Help You Teach Your Dog to Sit
• Can I Teach My Dog To Sit Without Treats?
• What to Avoid When Teaching a Dog to Sit
• Is it Ever Too Late to Start Teaching a Dog to Sit?
• Final Notes

Steps to Teach a Dog to Sit

There are many methods of teaching “sit” to your dog. If your dog has difficulty learning through one technique, you can try another one. It’s just important to be patient with your canine companion and not rush the process. All dogs learn differently, and they will get there in time. 

Some methods for how to teach a dog to sit include:

Capturing method

1. Take a few treats in your hand, stand in front of your dog, and wait until he or she sits.
2. Say "yes" loudly when they sit and offer them a treat.
3. Then, move away sideways or backwards and have them stand up.
4. Wait until they sit again and give them another treat.
5. Repeat the same process by saying “yes” every time your dog sits and giving them a treat.

Luring Method

1. Take some treats in your hand and kneel in front of your pup.
2. Bring the treat in front of their nose to let them sniff the treat.
3. Lift the treat above your dog's head and make sure they sit to nibble.
4. Allow them to eat the treat only when they’re fully seated on the ground.
5. Repeat this process three to four times and then try it with an empty hand, but give them a treat once they sit.
6. When your dog starts linking the hand signal to sit, try all the above steps with the command “sit” before giving a hand signal to the dog.

How Long Does it Take to Teach a Dog to Sit?

The sitting command is not difficult to teach your canine partner as long as you use the proper technique. It requires consistency, patience, and love to make a dog learn how to sit. Typically, you can teach a dog to sit in just one to three weeks. 

However, the amount of time it will take for your dog to learn to sit also depends on their age, intelligence, and the type of dog. It can take longer to teach puppies commands because they are more easily distracted, while adult dogs tend to have longer attention spans.

Tools to Help You Teach Your Dog to Sit

You need a few tools to train your dog to obey the sit command. Some helpful tools to have on hand include:

• Treats, such biscuits or dog food. 
• A clicker, which is helpful if you don't want to use vocal commands.
• A leash and collar if you are training at a park.

Can I Teach My Dog To Sit Without Treats?

You can train your dog quickly through reward-based training because dogs are more likely to follow a command when you give them a treat. If you need to limit treats due to a health condition, talk to your pet’s vet about diet and nutrition. Your vet will be able to recommend ways you can adjust your pup’s regular mealtimes to accommodate treats, or help you find other healthy treats that they’ll enjoy.

If you want to teach your dog to sit without treats, you need to understand their behaviors so you can know how they’re feeling. For example, you should know that if your dog is panting heavily, that isn’t necessarily a sign of dehydration in dogs. Some dogs pant because they’re feeling excited, and trying to teach your dog how to sit without treats, when they’re already in an anxious or excited mood, will make the training session more difficult.

If you want to teach your dog to sit without treats, these are some techniques that you can try out:

Playtime Technique

• Start by playing with your dog to grab their attention. Use any toys you have on hand.
• While you have a toy in your hand, stop playing with them and keep the toy on your dog's head to get their attention.
• Command “sit” while keeping the toy on their head.
• If your dog doesn't sit, move the toy towards their back and keep it high over their head. This will help them understand the motion to sit. 
• Reward them when they sit and start playing with them again.
• Repeat all the above steps until they learn to obey your command.

Phase Out Technique

• Start by training your dog to sit and rewarding them with treats every time they obey.
• When you are sure that they understand your command, take a treat and hold it over their head.
• Move the treat towards the back of their head and encourage them to look upwards.
• This way, your dog will lose their balance and sit while following the treat. Repeat several times and reward them only once.
• Phase-out and remove the treat by showing your excitement as a reward instead. For best results, use a variable rate of reinforcement where sometimes your pup is rewarded with a treat, sometimes it’s a toy, and sometimes there’s no treat at all.

What to Avoid When Teaching a Dog to Sit

There are a few things that you should avoid when teaching a dog any commands, including “sit”. You don’t want to rush things, as this could overwhelm your dog and prolong the sit training process. Don't punish your dog if they’re not learning to follow you quickly. Every dog learns at a different pace and you need to be patient and understanding throughout the entire process.

It’s also important to keep the training time short. 5 to 10 minutes of training per day is plenty for your dog to learn the “sit” command. Don't force your dog to sit in stressful conditions and avoid making them sit for a long time. 

Is it Ever Too Late to Start Teaching a Dog to Sit?

So we’ve discussed how to teach a dog to sit, but what about how to teach your puppy to sit?

If you’re bringing home a puppy, it's recommended to start training them as soon as possible. But dogs of all ages can learn to obey sit commands, and it’s never too late to start teaching them.

However, if your dog is having a difficult time learning how to sit, that might indicate that they’re suffering from anxiety. An anxious dog may have a harder time learning commands, so you need to know how to detect signs of dog anxiety. If you suspect your dog is suffering from anxiety or another health condition that is hindering their ability to learn commands, you should bring them to get checked.

Final Notes

Teaching your dog to sit is important for their overall safety and wellbeing. With the proper technique, you can teach your dog to sit in just a couple of weeks. 

But in addition to teaching your dog commands, it’s also crucial to stay on top of your dog’s health and bring them to the vet, which you can do with Dutch. Through Dutch, you can connect with licensed veterinarians that can help address various pet health issues, from dog anxiety to dog seizures. With Dutch, you can gain access to reliable pet care from the comfort of your home.

Along with connecting you with licensed vets, Dutch also has resources to improve pet care. From tips on how to bathe your dog to how to detect early warning signs for anxiety and more, there’s a lot of resources available for pet owners on Dutch.