Sit

The first command for every dog. “Sit” is the foundation of self-control and of almost every trick that follows.

🐾 · ~3 days · 5 min/session

Step-by-step

1. Get attention with a treat

   Stand in front of your dog with a small treat in your hand. Hold it close to their nose so they can sniff it, but don’t let them have it. Wait until they are fully focused on your hand.

   💡 Train before mealtimes — a hungry dog is far more motivated.

2. Lure the treat back over the head

   Slowly raise the treat up and slightly back, over your dog’s head. As their nose follows your hand, their back legs will naturally fold and they will sit. Don’t push their rear down with your hand — let the movement happen on its own.

   💡 If your dog backs up instead of sitting, practise with their back towards a wall.

3. Mark and reward instantly

   The moment their bottom touches the floor, say a cheerful “Yes!” and give the treat. The reward must come within a second or two so the dog links sitting with it. Repeat 5–6 times in a short session.

4. Add the word “Sit”

   Once your dog sits reliably following your hand, start saying “Sit” right before you raise the treat. After a few days, pause briefly after the word — most dogs will sit on the cue alone. Reward every success.

   💡 Say the word only once. Repeating “sit-sit-sit” teaches the dog to ignore you.

5. Fade the treat from your hand

   Make the same hand motion with an empty hand, then reward from your other hand or your pocket. This teaches the dog to respond to the cue rather than follow the food. Gradually practise in different places — at home, in the yard, on walks.

Common mistakes

• Pushing the dog’s rear down — it startles them and doesn’t teach them to sit on their own.
• Sessions that run too long. Five enthusiastic minutes beat twenty bored ones.
• A late reward — if the treat arrives after the dog has stood up again, you’re rewarding standing.

Problems & solutions

My dog jumps at my hand instead of sitting.

You’re holding the treat too high. Lower your hand to nose level and move it slowly — the nose should point up without the front paws leaving the floor.

They sit at home but ignore me completely outside.

Outdoors has far more distractions. Go back a step: start in a quiet corner of the yard with tastier treats and build up the distraction level gradually.

Reward ideas

Small soft treats the size of a pea, bits of boiled chicken or cheese. Mix in praise and a short play break.