Do you know ANOTHER way to teach my dog to sit?

Question

He is a chihuahua and we have been attending classes at Petsmart for training and stuff. Our trainer taught the class this technique:
Hold a treat in front of their face and bring it slowly over their head until they are looking up, which supposedly naturally makes them sit. Then you give them the treat.
The same technique is described in my book, Chihuahua for Dummies (which I highly recommend).
BUT he will. not. sit. No matter what I do... He jumps up, turns around, or forgets about the treat entirely. We tried putting a hand behind his but so that when he backs up he sits, but he wont do that.
Does anyone have another technique that worked for them? Thanks!

I've tried pressing down on his but, doesnt work. I've tried backing him into a wall or sometihing similar to it. Nothing works, and I've been trying for days. He's just not getting it.

Answer 1

push gently down on his bum while saying sit, then reward with treat

Answer 2

I have a toy fox terrier. Took me forever to get her to sit. Small dogs do not seem to like going down or lower than they already are. Maybe it makes them feel vulnerable.

However, ALL dogs know how to sit before we try to teach them to do it when we ask them to. So, the suggestion on Capturing the Sit is a very good one.

When she sits, and she will. Click and treat. Do only that for a couple of days. Nothing else - only when she sits. Then add the word sit. Click and treat. Repeat several times.

Gradually fade the clicker - every other time- while still saying the word sit and giving her lots of praise and treats.

Try this when there are not too many distractions around.

I used the capture to get my dog to Take a Bow. She did a play bow naturally, so I started to click it and treat. Then I added the word. Kept working at it and now she takes her bows on command. She thinks she pretty hot with that trick.

Answer 3

I never trained a Chihuahua, but this is how I train a dog to sit. I have the dog on a leash and collar. I say the word "Sit!" emphasizing the T on the end of sit while giving a hand signal also to the dog. The first few times, I gently push the dog's rump down until he sits and as soon as he does, I praise the dog with pets and words. Then we do it over and over again for at least a 5 minute to 10 minute session, until I am sure the dog understands what the word and the signal means.
I use the command and signal with the dog every day.

If you give your dog plenty of praise after every adherence to you, you won't have to give treats. Dogs crave love and attention from their masters!

Answer 4

This might work for you. Bring him into a room where it is quiet, with no distractions. It would be a good idea to have it where it is just you and him in the room. Get down to his level, hold his chin with one hand, keep direct eye contact all through this, with the other hand push his butt down and tell him "sit". Keep your hand on his butt and the other still holding his chin. Keep repeating "sit". If he moves his head, bring it back to where he is facing you. Try it again and again. It might take a while before he catches on, then again, he could pick up real fast. If you think he's getting the hang of it, try telling him to sit without putting his butt down. If not, then keep trying. Keep doing this routine on a daily basis until he gets it. Every time you do this with him praise him. You can give him a little treat if you would like too. They love treats and they love praise. I really hope this helps you out.

Answer 5

I saw someone train two young puppies with this method.

Hold the treat in front of the dog, and have him walk towards you by following the treat. Then, in a smooth motion, move the treat up slightly (but not high enough to make him jump for it) and backwards towards his face. This is supposed to make them sit down and look up rather than try to walk backwards as the treat comes at them.

You can also try pushing down on his rear until he's sitting down, and quickly saying the word, and then praising him. Sometimes it takes a while for the dog to associate the word with the action. One thing you shouldn't do is keep repeated 'sit' while trying to get him to sit- until he actually DOES sit, you shouldn't say it, because it makes the word meaningless if you just repeat it over and over while he does different things.

Good luck!

Answer 6

A gentle technique that I"ve used for "sit" is that with one hand, you do the treat to the nose and over the head thing, while you run the other hand over the dog's butt and into the back of his knees, pushing the joints in so he doesn't have a choice but to sit. The second that his butt hits the ground, use your bridge word and treat.

Only say sit once, then sit him, bridge word and treat. It's got to be quick.

Answer 7

each and every canines is diverse. yet all of them favor a advantages. Say sit then press the bottom down and praise with words besides as both a cope with, toy or some dogs a good rub will paintings. inspite of works acceptable on your canines.do not over practice at one time. even as your canines receives listless stop the consultation on a good be conscious. 10-15 min max. persistence is effortless. also inspire the canines to sit in the previous putting down nutrition or starting doors. including a hand signal works wonders for not ordinary to coach dogs

Answer 8

Nearly all dogs will sit throughout the day. Wait for it to happen, click and treat when it does. Your dog will very quickly figure out what made you click. When he is doing it reliably, put it on cue.

Alternatively, keep using the lure but use a clicker to 'mark' successive approximations towards a full sit. Your Petsmart instructor should be able to figure it out. You will probably get a few brief, accidental, bouncing sits. If you use a clicker you can mark those and you will get more of them. Your dog will quickly figure out exactly what it was that made you click.

Answer 9

We have two 10 month old puppies and have been watching 'Its me or the dog' of a sunday night. We are learning awsome tips off that. She suggested you hold the treat near their nose and then almost curl your wrist back towards you, as if to give it to them, but then take it away. once they sit you then gve them the treat. We have to force their bottoms on the ground a few times til they got it!

Answer 10

Gently press on the dog's bottom and say sit when he sits. Give him the treat when he is sitting. Repeat until he understands the sit command

Answer 11

If you get him to sit, when you give the treat, praise him and rub him and pet him and tell him how good he is. Dogs pick up on our feelings and if you act proud and happy, he will soon be wanting to make you happy whenever you tell him to sit.