Training Tuesday: The Almighty Sit

Now that you've spent the past week bonding with your pup, it's time to add some structure to your training sessions. If you have a dog who hasn't quite mastered sit, or is only a master when there are treats involved, this post will teach you how to make your pup a Sitting Fiend.

Unlike dancing, twirling, or standing on his hind legs, sitting is a natural position for your pooch. For this reason, it's a fairly simple thing to teach - once it's been taught, it's just a matter of repetition to make your dog's "sit" flawless. Begin by making sure you have plenty of training-sized treats (the size of a pea, or very slightly larger for big dogs). If your dog has never learned sit before, stand in front of him and show him your treat. If he jumps, turn away and wait for him to settle. Occasionally, dogs will automatically sit when they're confused - if that happens, give the treat immediately with lots of praise. If he's still standing looking baffled, say "Sit" and hold the treat just above his nose, then move the treat up and back, toward his tail. In order to keep his eye on the treat, he'll need to either sit or move. If he sits, give the treat immediately with lots of praise. Repeat the process five to ten times, until he is sitting as soon as you present the treat.

If your pooch is a dancer, - a pup who will spin around to visually track the treat rather than sit, even when sitting is the easier option - then you may need to be a little more hands-on. Never press down on your dog's backside - it can be very painful if there are undiagnosed hip issues, or it can simply make a skittish or dominant dog uncomfortable. Instead, hold the treat in front of his nose with one hand, while you reach behind the back knees and essentially sweep the legs to make the dog sit. As you are doing this, say "Sit" once, firmly; as soon as he is in the sitting position, give lots of praise and a treat. Try again without physically positioning your dog; after about five attempts, he should make the connection and begin sitting without your physical cues.

In order to reinforce the almighty "sit," give the command as frequently as possible. Whether you're out on a walk or lounging in your living room, take a moment out for a quick sit. Initially, it's best to have treats handy for this exercise; over the course of the next week, gradually wean your pup from the goodies by doing a three-sit session. On the first sit, give a treat; on the next two, mix it up a little by giving a treat only on the second or third try. In addition, make sure you always use the sit command before leashing or feeding your pup; he'll begin to associate sitting with all the best things in his life, and before long will readily sit when he sees something he wants.

Next week, we'll go over the sticky issue of teaching your pup to lie down - surprisingly, one of the most difficult commands to master. I'll also teach you some relaxation techniques and a new command to keep energized pups from driving you mad when you just want to spend a quiet evening at home. Until then, thanks for reading and drop a line with your questions.