Teaching your dog to “sit” is a useful skill that’s applicable in many situations. It can develop your dog’s impulse control and prevent unwanted behaviours like jumping up on people and door-dashing. Sit can be taught at any age, whether you’re working with a young puppy or a senior.
You can train your dog to sit with lure training, capturing the sit, or shaping the behaviour with a clicker. Read on for detailed steps on how to master each approach.
How to start
The best place to start training is in a relaxed environment free from distractions. Once your dog has mastered the behaviour in your own home or garden, you can begin to generalise the cue by practising it in other places, like on a walk or at the store.
You don’t need a lot of gear to get started, but it’s helpful to have treats or a clicker.
1. Lure the Sit
The lure method is usually the easiest approach and one that most handlers start with. Certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and owner of Modern Hound Dog Training, Shoshi Parks, lays out the steps for luring a sit in three parts.
This involves using a treat to guide your pup’s movements into a sit.
- Hold a treat between your thumb and forefinger with your palm facing up.
- Place your hand close to your dog’s muzzle, then slowly lift it upwards. As your dog’s nose follows the treat, their bum will lower to the ground.
- Mark the moment your dog sits with the word “yes!” or a clicker.
- Give your dog the treat.
- Repeat at least five times.
Pro tip: “If your dog backs up when you move the treat over [their] head, she is worried about you invading her space,” says Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, a behaviour consultant and the director of Peaceable Paws Dog and Puppy Training.
“Instead, take a step back and move the treat up towards your chest to encourage [them] to step towards you and sit. “
2. Teach a Hand Signal
When your dog understands the desired position, it’s time to remove the food lure. Only bring out the treat once your dog has completed the sit.
- Hold your empty hand, palm facing up, in front of your dog’s muzzle.
- Lift your hand upwards. Your dog’s nose will lift as their bum lowers to the ground.
- Mark the moment your dog sits with the word “yes!” or a clicker.
- Reach for a treat and immediately give it to your dog while they maintain the sit position.
- Repeat at least five times.
Pro tip: If your dog gets up immediately, ask them to sit again with your hand signal before releasing the treat.
3. Teach a Verbal Cue
When your dog is consistently responding to your hand signal, it’s time to introduce the verbal cue “sit.”
- Say the word “sit,” then immediately use your hand signal, lifting your empty hand upwards with the palm facing up.
- When your dog sits, mark the moment, then reward. Repeat five times.
- Say the word “sit,” then wait for 5-10 seconds as your dog thinks.
- If your dog sits, mark the moment and reward. If your dog doesn’t sit, show them your hand signal, then mark and reward.
- Repeat until your dog consistently responds to the word “sit” without requiring the hand signal.
Pro tip: Use a happy tone, not a commanding or stern one.
4. Capture the Sit
If you’re working with a particularly energetic dog, you may have better luck with capturing a sit. This method involves paying close attention to your dog without actually guiding them into a position. Anytime your dog offers a natural sit on their own, mark the behaviour with your clicker, then toss them a treat. Eventually, your pup will learn that sitting earns them a reward.
Pro tip: “When you see her about to offer a sit, add your ‘sit’ cue just before she does it,” instructs Miller. “With enough repetitions, she will respond to your cue by sitting when asked.”
5. Shape the Sit
Shaping is similar to capturing, but the behaviour is broken down into incremental steps. First, mark and reward your dog for just slightly bending their hind legs. Then, gradually raise the criteria so they have to bend a little more until they are eventually sitting all the way.
Pro tip: “Shaping is a very valuable skill, and it can be complex,” says Miller. “If you’re not already familiar with it and you want to give it a try, you might need a good force-free professional to help coach you.”
6. Teach Sit From the “Down” Position
Sometimes a dog will lie down but not sit. Miller tells us that if you can get your dog to lie down (or approach them when they’re already lying down), you can carefully lure them up into a sitting position. You can also shape this behaviour by raising the treat bit by bit, rewarding each small movement towards a sit.
Pro tip: “Again, add the cue when you know you can get [them] to do it and eventually fade the lure as described above,” says Miller.
How to Identify the Perfect Sit
“You’ll know your dog has learned to sit when you no longer need to lure—they will sit for you on just the verbal cue,” Miller explains. With enough reinforcement, sitting can become a “default” behaviour that your dog performs voluntarily, even without a cue from you.
What not to do
For a successful sit, there are a few things to avoid:
- Pushing your dog’s hind legs to force them into a sit. This can be scary or confusing.
- Using a harsh voice or any type of punishment can create a negative association with sitting.
- Long training sessions. Stick to about 15-20 minutes per day.
- Losing your patience. This process can take time—some dogs will catch on quickly; others will need more time.
Where Can “Sit” Come In Handy?
Sitting is an important skill that can set your dog up for a lifetime of good behaviour.
It’s useful in multiple applications, including the following:
- Greeting people on walks
- Crossing the street safely
- Preventing your dog from dashing out of open doors
- Keeping your dog from jumping on house guests
- Calmer greetings when you return home
- Getting weighed at the vet’s office
- Putting on their lead and harness before a walk
- Can be used as a polite way to say “please”
- Teaching other behaviours like “down,” “sit pretty,” “stay,” “roll over,” and “go to bed”
Training your dog to sit is also great for bonding.
“Having at least a few trained behaviours is a great way to increase communication between you and your dog, and good communication is key to a good relationship,” says Aaron Teixeira, ACAAB, CPDT-KA, board-certified applied animal behaviourist and professional dog trainer.
When not to use “sit”
In some cases, the sit position can cause pain or pressure. Teixeira explains that some breeds, like Greyhounds, can experience discomfort in a sitting position. Some dogs with medical conditions, such as hip or knee problems, obesity, or arthritis, may find sitting too painful. “I like to encourage people to talk with their vet about the appropriateness of asking their dog to sit,” says Teixeira.
Other times, there may be a more appropriate cue to use, like “Touch” or “Look,” Teixeira adds. “These will help to get the dog engaged with you and compliant with their trained behaviour, which I think is often the ultimate goal.”
5 Tips for Dogs Struggling to Master Sit
Pat Miller offers tips for some common snags along the way:
1. Your dog doesn’t understand that sit means their bum is touching the floor
Sometimes, a dog’s anatomy is such that even when in a resting position, their rear doesn’t quite touch the floor. In these instances, you can accept that as a “real” sit, says Pat Miller. But if your dog doesn’t get all the way to the floor even though they can physically, they may not understand what you want from them. If that’s the case, Miller says you can try shaping the behaviour.
2. Your dog doesn’t sit long enough or springs up at the first distraction
If your dog is struggling to hold the sit position, try practising in a distraction-free location. Miller also says you can hold the treat in front of your dog’s nose for longer to encourage your pup to stay put. Then gradually add low-level distractions so they learn to sit still, even when things are happening around them.
“But teaching a specific “Wait” or “Stay” cue is the best way to get a solid, long-lasting sit—and that’s a whole different protocol!” Miller tells us.
3. Your dog is jumping up for the treat instead of sitting
This may happen because you’re holding the lure too high. Try lowering your hand closer to their nose while your dog is in a standing position.
4. Your dog isn’t interested in the lure
If your dog doesn’t find their current reward motivating enough, try switching to a higher-value treat. Every dog has different tastes, but generally, most dogs will enjoy meaty flavours, moist textures, and strong-smelling treats.
5. Your dog is taking too long to learn the process
Miller reminds us that patience is critical for anyone who wishes to teach their dog. “In any given group of dogs, some will naturally ‘get it’ faster than others,” she points out—so make sure you’re giving your dog enough time to learn this new skill. “If, however, you feel that you and your dog are really stuck, then your best bet is to seek the assistance of a qualified force-free professional who can help you figure out what’s not working and help you and your dog succeed.”
