Sit (Shaping Method)

Here's another way you can teach your dog to sit, using the shaping method.

With shaping, you click and treat small steps -- any movements -- that are headed in the right direction. Any slight movement your dog makes that leads to the final goal (the final behavior you want him to learn) is clicked and treated. You raise the bar a little higher as you go along -- only clicking and treating closer and closer attempts -- until, finally, you reach the goal and he performs the actual desired behavior!

You can shape any behavior!

Here's how to use shaping to teach your dog to sit:

Watch your dog very carefully and click the instant he makes any slight downward movement with his bum or begins to bend his hind legs. Then hand him a treat. Repeat this several times: clicking the slightest movement of his bum and treating.

Gradually raise the bar higher, waiting a little longer and allowing his bum to drop further to the ground before you click and treat.

When he finally sits all the way click and treat, and keep clicking and treating every time he sits.

Now that he is performing the behavior for you, you can add the cue. Say, "sit," just before he sits, click and treat when he sits. Practice this twenty times.

Now, that he's learned the cue for sit, only click and treat when he sits after you've given the cue.

Next: Stand