I'd like to ask contributors to the board what techniques they use for teaching their dogs to SIT and what are their personal reasons for using this specific technique (this may be because you physically struggle with another, or it has implications for future training - ie obedience work requiring a high level of accuracy).

Admin: we would like to keep this thread as your techniques and NOT for debate. If you would like to debate ANY issue raised in this thread, please start another thread headed Sit - Debate

Please reply to the original post

1) I have put my hand and gently pushed the bum down and had my other hand under the pups chin and said sit, once the pup sat I praised/treated.

2) I have also held a treat to pups nose and went kinda over the head and said sit, which made the pup sit and reward. (hope that made sense)

I have done both with all my dogs from about 2 months on, and it seems to work everytime,since they now no what sit means now all I do is use one finger and do like a tap motion and say sit and Iam standing away in front,(can't say they do it when out in public unless I only have one, or treats in my hand) all dogs sit and I treat or praise them. I find it works pretty good, my 3 month old pup now does it (as well as following the other 5 dogs must help to learn what I mean).

Hope this made some sense.
ttfn :)

I found the sit the easiest thing to train. If you ask your pup to sit (you can use Dollface's methods) and stay before giving every meal (start from Day 1), they learn those two commands incredibly quickly :) :) Just a day or two. Mine sit in their beds while I am preparing their food and don't dare move unless it makes getting Dinner just that bit longer :D

Daisy

bump

I always wait for the behaviour to be offered and the use the clicker. I never touch the dog as our breed can become hand shy.When I get the behaviour offered consistently I put a 'ssssssssss' in. The dogs work so a fast, consistent sit is essential to voice, hand siganl and whistle.
Diane

I hold my hand above their head and move it slightly towards their tail end and they often automatically sit (as they are looking at your hand and gravity takes over), so use the sit command as they sit, then reward (with treat or verbal praise).

Using my right hand under their chin I lift the chin as high as it will go this pushes puppy into sitting position, at the same time a raise my left hand and show them the palm of my hand,I do not use voice commands as this can be lost over other noises, eventually pups sit to the raised palm of my left hand, It also helps that I use one of my older dogs with me, pups will copy another dog very quickly.

Kay