How do you train a sit?

S

SheltieChe

Forums Sage
Do you train sit as stationary position, i.e. once dog sits he is not moving until released?
Also I am wondering how do you define WHEN your dog knows command sit?
What criteria do you go by?
Another struggle I am having is teaching sit at distance? How did you teach it?
 
Sit

SheltieChe said:
Do you train sit as stationary position, i.e. once dog sits he is not moving until released?
Also I am wondering how do you define WHEN your dog knows command sit?
What criteria do you go by?
Another struggle I am having is teaching sit at distance? How did you teach it?
Click to expand...

Doesn't Susan Garett have something on this on her web site?
 
I don't remember exactly, but I know I shaped it initially in like three minutes with the clicker... LOL (I was sitting, standing, laying down all kinds of body positions)
Always accompanied with a hand-signal and then increased distance.
So I would tell Toffee to stay, then walk away turn around and raise my hand and say SIT, then race back to him to reward, etc. He can do that at a distance but the sit from a down is not as consistent from distance... Could work on that but not that high on my list, lol

My criteria back then was slack, so I taught him stay when I should have expected a stay in a stationary position until I release.. oh well learning curve for agility dog number two, lollll
 
I defined a sit as four feet and butt on the ground with no movement until the release cue is given, in other words a sit AND stay. I was happy that my dog understood the action once he was able to stay in a sit with distractions around (treats being thrown on the floor, other dogs passing by, me running waving, shouting, etc). To train from a distance I would suggest just gradually increasing the distance between you and the dog. You may need to first train a standing stay to get the distance before you cue a sit. Good Luck!!
 
We were working on sit at a distance at class a couple of weeks ago. We initially taught a sit by shaping and using a hand signal, then put it to a voice command. The dog is not to move position until a release command is given.

To teach a sit from a distance, we'd place the dog in a stand, give the 'wait' command and back up a few feet. We'd then give the sit command. If the dog moves forward we'd place the dog back in the start position without saying anything. When the dog finally understands what's wanted, we'd then gradually back up further.
 
The first week we got Kuma, I watched youtube videos teaching how to teach the sit command. The one that worked well was to put the treat eye-level with the puppy and move til he/she sits method. I was able to teach Kuma within 2 days with this. Shake hands was just as easy after that.
 
Tried the one from the link above and and my mechanics were no good. Neither Che or Leo thought it was a good game...
OTOH we had a great success with something we were taught in off leash class. You throw treats over the head of the dog, telling them to get it. Eventually dog halts at distance when they see your raised hand, that is when if you have strong down or sit you can get command going. Haven't had chance to do it with Che but Leo was brilliant.
 
At first I captured the behaviour in our everyday life. A dog sometimes sits down and then I rewarded it. After in training she had easier to offer sit as a behaviour.
To teach "fastness" (don't know the word) I used doggie-zen, which means that I will try anything to lure her to move out of position. If she moves the reward will disappear and she wont get her treat.

In the beginning of Doggie-zen I will start to try to lure her out with a treat, when she reaches to get it I will close my hand. When she has got the concept of doggie-zen you can throw balls, throw candy, run around, try to push her out of position etc. Of course you must reward her when she stays in position!

I also has a "free-command" that I use when it is ok to break a position and be free. If I say sit, I want her to sit down until she either gets another command ("lay down", "come her" etc) or to break position ("Free!").
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top