Teaching Your Dog to Sit
The SIT command is perhaps one of the most important commands that you would want to teach your dog. Having a dog on the prowl all the time when guests are around or when you are doing some important work is not pleasing. Thus it becomes important that you teach your dog how to be well seated.

Begin training your dog for the ‘sit’ command by holding a treat in your hand above the nose of your dog. Move this treat back over the dog’s nose. Try reaching between the ears of your dog.

Your dog will most probably follow the food with his eyes. While his head will go up and back, his rear end automatically goes down and he becomes seated. This is a natural process that occurs with most dogs.

If your dog pounces on the treat or turns his back, then chances are that you are holding the treat too high always make sure that the treat is not held too high above the dog’s nose. The treat should always be within the dog’s reach.  

Once your dog is seated say ‘yes’ and handover the treat. You can also affirm your actions with a smile. This will teach your dog that he gets a treat whenever he is seated.

Now that your dog has learnt to sit, it is time that you teach the same command without the treat. This is important so that your dog does not get addicted to receiving a treat each time he is asked to sit.

Repeat the same process by showing a treat to your dog. But pass on the treat smartly into your hand without letting your dog know. Move your hand like before and your dog should sit.

After the dog is seated bring out the other hand that is actually holding the treat. Hand it to your pooch. Now repeat the same process without showing a treat to your dog in the beginning.

Now that your dog has learnt how to sit, start refraining from movement of your hand. Simply hold your hand above your dog’s nose. Without moving your hand much, tell your dog to ‘sit’. This will teach your dog to sit simply on listening to the command.

Once you are assured that your dog is trained for the sit command, teach him to be patient while sitting. Let him sit for a few minutes before you hand out the treat to him. This will teach your dog to be patient and also tell him that he may not receive the treat each time.
 
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