"Correct" sits

[seashel]

I thought that picture of Porter was interesting as it's more unusual for a sheltie to sit like that as opposed to bigger and heavier breeds. Certainly anything the size of a lab upwards tend to sit either backwards (the 'rock sit' as Dr Shelli has described) or sit on one hip, which is frequently described as a puppy sit. I have found that shelties (my own and others) tend to naturally sit correctly balanced, which only leaves the position in relation to the handler and the duration to work on.

Slightly off topic but I have always taught the dogs to down from a stand (dropping forehand first, then hindquarters) and never to down from a sit as it encourages them to slide down during a stay and also forward movement which is penalised in Distant Control.

 

[Justicemom]

I thought that picture of Porter was interesting as it's more unusual for a sheltie to sit like that as opposed to bigger and heavier breeds. Certainly anything the size of a lab upwards tend to sit either backwards (the 'rock sit' as Dr Shelli has described) or sit on one hip, which is frequently described as a puppy sit. I have found that shelties (my own and others) tend to naturally sit correctly balanced, which only leaves the position in relation to the handler and the duration to work on.

Slightly off topic but I have always taught the dogs to down from a stand (dropping forehand first, then hindquarters) and never to down from a sit as it encourages them to slide down during a stay and also forward movement which is penalised in Distant Control.

Yes it was strange. But Diva did it as a puppy though her legs were not extended like that. Like mother like son I guess. She does not sit like that now but something still rolls back on her butt(Justice does too). That butt rolling thing seems very sheltie as almost every sheltie I have known does that to some degree.

I wondered at that structure that causes it or if it is just a bit a laziness. I think it maybe too long of a body. Diva and Porter are both slightly long in the body. Ember and Coal who are cobby in body and actually a bit square, have never sat sloppy. Things to think about.

I too teach down like you. They don't learn to slide down but they will still do it and once they realize they can, Oh NO

 

[nbrard]

If I didn't already know that I was a rookie sheltie owner before today this thread just confirmed it. I had no idea that there was such a thing as correct or incorrect sitting, but we also have never done obedience other than the usual pet type. In our world if their butts hit the ground and they look up at you it's a touchdown sit!!

 

[2GoodDogs]

I will have a real challenge teaching a good sit - he rocks back every.single.time that I do not have a lure. Going to out stubborn him one of these days and win, getting a good square sit ... at least once!

 

[Toffee's Mom]

I love the sloppy Sheltie sit,Toffee always sits on his butt.. often even on his side.. lol
never worked on it, not going to do competitive obedience, hahhahaha... it's wayyyyyyy too tough
for me too precise and kinda boring LOLLLL

I certainly love and respect all the work that goes into it, man all our Shelties are gorgeous bad sit or not

 

[Justicemom]

I love the sloppy Sheltie sit,Toffee always sits on his butt.. often even on his side.. lol
never worked on it, not going to do competitive obedience, hahhahaha... it's wayyyyyyy too tough
for me too precice and kinda boring LOLLLL

I certainly love and respect all the work that goes into it, man all our Shelties are gorgeous bad sit or not

See that drives me crazy. It looks so lazy. Like the dog isn't ready to work or move. I like them up, weight on the front legs, ready to power out of that sit or comfortable enough to hold that sit until I release them. That is the agility angle here. Seee. LOL

 

[Justicemom]

I found a video I made showing the 2 types of sits. the tuck and the rock. The end form is fine for both but the rock sit if they stop even with you will result in a dog sitting behind the handler.

Ember does the rock sit(can't tell you how long it took me to capture that)

Justice does the tuck. You want the dog to sit like Justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zyYMVcaxPM

 

[corbinam]

I found a video I made showing the 2 types of sits. the tuck and the rock. The end form is fine for both but the rock sit if they stop even with you will result in a dog sitting behind the handler.

Ember does the rock sit(can't tell you how long it took me to capture that)

Justice does the tuck. You want the dog to sit like Justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zyYMVcaxPM

Ah! Thanks! I just tested my dogs...Bentley does the tuck sit, and Lexi the rock sit. I wonder if your theory of longer dogs preferring the rock sit is true. Lexi is much longer, and Bentley much cobbier.

Of course, something tells me at the start line that Lexi does the tuck sit...she is always ready to go. She often lifts one of her front feet in anticipation.

 

[Calliesmom]

well, theoretically Cran learned the tuck sit as a puppy - we borrowed a board from our instructor and he did it pretty well back then. I will confess that I have not paid any attention recently to how he has been sitting. We need to work on sits with both pups as they both blew off the three steps sit every time sign in rally
no idea how Dixie does it. and I don't appear to have any recent pix of them sitting. guess I've been trying for more action shots
Dixie does like to down straight from a stand- she just sinks to the ground- it's really cute.

 

[k9kreationz]

I found a video I made showing the 2 types of sits. the tuck and the rock. The end form is fine for both but the rock sit if they stop even with you will result in a dog sitting behind the handler.

Ember does the rock sit(can't tell you how long it took me to capture that)

Justice does the tuck. You want the dog to sit like Justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zyYMVcaxPM

It's almost 1am here. I'm about to go to bed and instead, what am I doing? Making my dogs sit. So here are my results.....

Miko I say does the rock sit, but he also tends to walk backwards first. BAD for obedience, as he's always behind me a bit. We worked on it a lot so he'd stop forward more, then do his scoot back to sit.

Koji does the tuck sit exactly like Justice. I had to watch him and the video a handful of times. lol. I couldn't figure out at first what he was doing.

Ashley, Miko and Lexi are the same height/length and they sit the same way (rock). However, Koji is longer than Miko/Lexi and does a tuck sit. Huh. Did I just kill that theory?

I have to admit. Koji has an AWESOME sit when there's food involved. Feet are straight and tucked nicely. I should've gotten a photo, but I"m sure he was wondering why I was making him do sits before bed. lol.
I think I just killed the theory of rock sits and long bodies as Koji is long and that's how he sat. At first I wasn't sure, but nope, he mimics Justice exactly.

Okay, time to go to bed.....as I dream about the "perfect" sits. I hope y'all are happy. I'm going to dream of 1/2 points off due to angle of body and feet. Yikes!