The Sit

By now, your dog should understand the cue to sit. In this lesson, we're going to build on that foundation by increasing the duration of the sit and proofing the behaviour in a variety of different environments.

Remember, just because your dog can sit reliably at home doesn't mean they fully understand the exercise. Dogs don't generalise well, so it's important to practise in different locations, around varying levels of distraction, and in a range of real-life situations.

Keep your training sessions short and successful. Gradually increase the amount of time your dog remains sitting, rewarding them for staying in position. If your dog gets up, don't tell them off. Simply reduce the duration, make the exercise easier, and build back up again.

Your goal is a dog that remains calm, relaxed and confident in the sit until released, no matter where they are.

As always, less is more. Take your time, build success one step at a time, and don't rush to increase duration or distractions before your dog is ready.