Read Steve Snell's dog training collar reviews & more See Steve's Hunting Dogs
Gun Dog Supply's Hunting Dog Store
 
Shopper Award 
FREE SHIPPING on Orders $89+

Back to Basics: Teaching the Sit Command


by Robin MacFarlane



These are some simple techniques I believe most anyone can perform.

I appreciate how a remote training collar can provide us security in running our dogs off leash. Having a great recall is the surest way to be able to provide our dogs some of the freedoms I believe they should be able to experience.

The downside of educating people about this tool is the worry that some may misunderstand and assume that the e-collar is a sort of remote control like we use to turn the television on. It is not. We can't just push the button and the dog suddenly changes behavior and listens to us.

It is a tool that we must take the time to teach the dog to understand.

When teaching with it, it is our responsibility to know how to help the dog understand the desired behavior we are trying to achieve.

You can push the button on an e-collar all you want, but if you first don't understand some simple ways to teach a particular behavior, adding the collar to the mix won't fix the problem.

So let me start with one of the most basic behaviors: the Sit position.

There are a number of ways to teach a dog to put their butt on the ground on command. After all, it is not a unique behavior. Dogs do it on their own all the time. However, if we want to add a cue to it, we either have to always wait for it to happen and name it (capturing), OR we have to find ways to prompt (shaping) the behavior.

I am going to focus on ways to shape the behavior by either Lure and Reward methods or Modeling and Molding it. These are such simple techniques I believe most anyone can perform them.

Plus, I like the advantage that teaching these ways automatically builds in additional cues for the dog other than just the verbal signal. By creating certain touch or other subtle pressure cues, such as laying a hand on the shoulder blades or putting your foot on the leash, you can communicate with your dog without speaking to them.

This can come in handy if you are in the middle of a conversation with someone. You can cue the dog into a behavior without breaking the conversation with your other friends.

So here is a look at a few of these techniques while teaching a Sit command.

-- Robin



Robin MacFarlane is a professional dog trainer and owner of That’s My Dog in Dubuque, Iowa. Her best-selling dog training DVDs, JUST RIGHT and JUST RIGHT 2 have helped thousands of dog owners teach their dogs basic obedience and fix problem behaviors through a system of training that you can easily work into your daily routine.
  • Robin writes for Gun Dog Supply on our E-collars Dog Training blog
  • Follow her on Facebook
  • Read her other posts here on RobinMacFarlane.com




  • Pull-Quote= There is more than one way to teach Sit.



    1-800-624-6378 shipping-map free-shipping
    GUN DOG SUPPLY - "Serving Hunting & Field Dog Owners Nationally Since 1972."
    Order online via Secure Server or call 1-800-624-6378 to order! GDS Warehouse, 17645 U.S. Highway 82, Mathiston, Mississippi, 39752 USA.

    gundogsupply

    Gun Dog Supply's Facebook | Gun Dog Supply on LinkedIn | Gun Dog Supply on YouTube
    Gun Dog Forum sponsored by GD Supply | Reseller Ratings: GunDogSupply.com | Gun Dog Supply on SHOPPER APPROVED

    All words & pictures are copyright © 1997-2024, Gun Dog Supply or their respective owners. All rights reserved. Buy online with confidence when you order discount retriever hunting dog supplies, canine training equipment, k-9 accessories, and training products for your gun dog, bird dog, or working retriever. Your on-line purchase is protected through secure server ordering. Review our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Shop our canine closeout items, best bargains, k9 discount prices, good deals, cheap stuff and other values for sale. Compare our products in reviews, reports, comparisons, and buyers guides.


    Customer Priority Number:




    privacy policy | terms & conditions