Sit: Extending Time
REMEMBER: DO NOT CUE OR GIVE A HAND SIGNAL YET. You need consistent and predictable behavior that happens every time. Even if you have a consistent hand signal, please don’t use it! We want to teach your dog that a verbal cue is also important, and he will not learn a verbal cue if he’s falling back on your hand signals. Keep your hands in a neutral position when training!
BEFORE YOU MOVE ON TO THIS STEP:
- You should have practiced capturing sit with your clicker several times a day for the last week.
- Your dog should now be offering you a sit when you start your training session.
If your dog is not sitting for you without prompting from you go back to the first lesson on sit and practice some more.
TOOLS:
Clicker
Treats
Treat pouch
Mat
TRAINING ENVIRONMENT: Start in the least distracting (most boring) place in your home.
RECOMMENDED TREAT POSITION: On mat or toss.
STEPS:
- Continue to practice capturing the sit.
- Mix up the amount of time between the time your dog puts his bottom on the floor and the time you click and treat. Click and treat should still be only seconds apart.
- Don’t be linear or predictable, your dog will get bored and stop working. A guessing game will keep him interested and extend the time even faster.
HOMEWORK:
PUPPIES: Practice five repetitions and take a break. Do this two to three times each day.
DOGS: Practice this at least ten repetitions, three times each day.
AT THE END OF THIS STEP:
Your dog should keep his bottom down for five or more seconds.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
My dog won’t sit. He just stands there.
- Move to a less distracting environment.
- Take him for a walk or play a game to get rid of any pent-up energy.
- Make sure you are giving him a reward he actually enjoys.
I ask my dog to sit and he won’t do it.
- You may have named it before it was predictable. Keep practicing without the cue. Try again in a day or two.
- The environment may be distracting. Make it easier by selecting a less distracting environment.