Teaching Sit and Down

There are different methods for showing your dog what “Sit” and “Down” mean. Use whichever works best for your dog. Train for a maximum of 15 minutes at a time.

Items needed: High value treats (meat, cheese, jerky) Training collar and Leash

How to teach “Sit”

Step 1- Luring- done for puppies or if your dog has never been taught sit

1. Get your dogs attention with the treat in your hand and have them standing in front of you.

2. Put the treat right in front of their nose, then slowly lift the treat above their head. Don't say anything. They should follow the treat and sit. Reward them with the treat when they are in the sit position. You can also use the leash to keep them from jumping up or use a hand to guide their butt down. After this has been repeated and they are getting into the sit position immediately with your hand movement, add your verbal "SIT".

Say it ONCE right before you do the exact same hand movement. Slowly take the hand movement away and once your dog will sit without using your hand to lure them back, move on to the next step. DONT RUSH.

Step 2

1. Say “sit,” and pause for a few seconds, no movement

2. If the dog does not sit after a few seconds, apply steady, light pressure with the training collar and say "sit" again. Do not release pressure until they sit.

3. Praise heavily one the dog has sat

How to teach “Down”

Step 1 Luring

1. Begin with your dog sitting. Treat in hand.

2. Don't say anything, lead your hand from their nose to the ground. Keep your hand on the ground, just slightly out of their reach. If needed, use their leash to apply very gentle pressure downwards or keep them from walking forward.

4. Praise when they fully lay down. Repeat until they go into a down with the hand movement. Add your verbal "DOWN" once they understand the movement. Say it ONCE right before you do the exact same hand movement. Slowly take the hand movement away and once your dog will down without using your hand to lure them all the way down, then move on to the next step. DONT RUSH.

Step 2

1. Begin with your dog sitting.

2. Say “down,” pause for a few seconds, don't move.

3. If the dog does not down after a few seconds, apply steady, light pressure with the training collar and say "down" again. Do not release pressure until they down.

4. Praise.

When a dog jumps on you, say “off” not “down.” Don’t use a word to mean two different things!