Dog Training Tips – Teaching Sit and Stay Commands

Four principles apply to training your dog in the sit position, and these may also be applied to heel-training – the acronym ACER will help you remember them: Attention, Command, Execute and Reward.

Be patient when teaching the sit: dogs feel vulnerable in this position and, depending on your dog’s history, he may not be very comfortable with it.

If you wish to use treat training to teach your dog to sit, then follow these instructions. Stand beside your dog with a treat in the hand closest to him. Offer the treat, then give the command ’sit’ and at the same time move the treat up towards the dog’s nose and over his head. Move the treat back past his head slightly so your dog is looking up; he will automatically move into the sit position. As he does, reward him with a treat.

Stay

The ability to get your dog to stay where you want him, both indoors and out, is very useful. For instance, you can use this command if you have visitors and you want your dog to remain in his bed out of the way, or if he needs to stay put for his own safety and that of others while on a walk.

The free stay

Once you are happy with your dog staying on the leash, you can progress to teaching him the free stay. To do this, move away from your dog, command ’stay’ and drop the leash on the floor (put your foot on the leash if you are worried about him running off). Wait for a few seconds, then walk to and around your dog, finishing by his right side. Reward him with a pat or a treat – don’t hold the treat so that he tries to jump up to get it.

1. Command ’sit’ and simultaneously apply gentle pressure with your left hand on the dog’s rear end to push him down.
2. Responding to the pressure, the dog will execute the command by sitting.
3. When he does so, reward him with the treat. Always request that your dog sits before feeding him or putting him on his leash. This will reinforce good manners, and also your ‘number one’ status.

Teaching a dog to stay when on a leash

1. To teach stay, have your dog on a leash and put him into the sit position by your left heel.
2. To start, you are simply going to walk around the dog with him in a controlled stay, so command ’stay’, with the leash slack in your left hand. Hold your right hand with the palm open in front of the dog as a visual signal. Repeat the ’stay’ command and then take one step to his side.
3. Repeat the command, then walk briskly around the dog, staying dose to him so he knows where you are. Complete the circuit by standing at your dog’s right side. Reward him with calm praise.
4. Repeat the exercise, this time moving a little further away at the front but coming close again at the back to reassure the dog you are still there. If he stays in position, you can gradually increase the distance between you.