General Care and Nursing - The sit exercise

Once your dog is Heeling on leash, you should leach him to sit. The two lessons are closely associated because they are used together when the puppy is walking on leash.

The puppy is trotting along at your left side. The leash is held in your right hand, your left hand just now being reserved for another action. Coil up the leash into a fairly short length. Stop and command him to “Sit”, your dog doesn’t understand this command, so you will have to demonstrate what you have in mind. As you give the command, pull the leash upward with your right had while you press down ward on his hindquarters with your left to put him in a sitting position. Press gently, slowly, and do not remove your hand too quickly. You want the dog to sit but not to lie down, so you may have to continue the upward pull on the leash. As you issue the order, keep your feet still. If you move your feet the puppy will move.

The first few times, your puppy may be surprised at the pressure and perhaps even try to break away. If he resists, order “Heel!” immediately, and start walking to calm him down.

If he lies down instead of sitting as he should, chances are that your hold on the leash was incorrect. A slow, firm up-pull on the leash as you issue the order “Sit!” should produce the right pressure. When your grip on the leash is not strong enough, and the dog lies down, do not try to correct by jerking. The mistake was yours, not the dog’s. Reach down, and with your right hand between the forelegs, raise him to a sitting position, then pet him to show approval.

If he gets up the instant you take your hand away, that , too, is your fault. Keep your hand pressed to his hindquarters long enough for him to understand what you want, even if it takes several seconds. Gradually, less pulling will be needed and, finally, none at all. Should your dog sit diagonally instead of squarely, nudge his hindquarters to the right or left so that he faces directly forward.