Stand

Stand in front of your dog with him in the sitting position and hold a treat just in front of his nose. Very slowly move the treat away from his nose. He will follow the treat and this will cause him to stand. Click the instant he stands and give him the treat. Then put him back in the sit position. Repeat this several times.

Tip: if he won't stand, click and treat any slight movement he makes towards standing, such as if he moves his head forward to follow the treat. Keep clicking and treating small steps in the right direction until he finally stands.

Now, without a treat in your hand this time, make the same movement with your hand slowly pulling it away from his nose. Click when he follows your hand and stands, and give him a treat.

The hand movement has now become the cue to stand. This is called a physical cue or hand signal. You can fade out this physical cue which causes him to stand and replace it with a verbal cue, such as stand, instead, if you wish.

To do this, give the verbal cue: say "stand," then give the physical cue (the hand movement) as before. Click and treat when he stands. Repeat this several times and gradually make the physical cue -- your hand movement -- smaller and smaller until he stands when you simply give the verbal cue and no physical cue at all.

Next: Down (Lure Method)