Sit Team
Usually the “Sit!” Team learns one of the first and becomes a small victory for a two-month-old puppy (see “Primary education of a puppy”). With the use of treats, you can work out the skill and the grown-up pet. However, the algorithm of the exercise should be more stringent. The dog is on a short leash, which the trainer holds in his left hand 20-25 cm from the collar. Give the command “Sit!”, Holding the right hand with a delicacy to the nose of the dog, and then gently pulling it up and back a little. The dog raises his head and stretches, trying to get food, and as the leash keeps him from jumping, he eventually sits down. Once this has happened, encourage your pupil with delicacy, stroking and praise.
The second method is based on a purely mechanical effect. The dog stands near the trainer’s left foot on a short leash. You turn in half a turn to it and take the leash in the right hand 10–15 cm from the collar. With the command “Sit!”, Use the pressure on the lower back with your left hand in combination with the tension of the leash up and back, produced by the right hand. Correct posture should be encouraged with generous praise. Keeping the dog in a sitting position for 5–10 seconds, transfer it to a free state, giving the command “Walk!”. At each lesson, repeat this exercise 5–10 times at intervals until the need for a mechanical correction diminishes. You may still need some time to “remind” the dog of the immediate execution of the command only with a slight movement of the leash.
Sit Team
In the course of obedience, there are three options for executing the Sit! Command that you should definitely study with your ward:
1) execution of the Sit! Command regardless of external circumstances;
2) sitting the dog to the left of the trainer when calling as the final element of the team “Ko me!”;
3) automatic landing during stops in the performance of the command “Near!”.
Initially, practice the exercises using positive motivation (treat, toy, praise) and mechanical correction with the help of a leash. The dog should sit correctly, leaning on both forelegs and pressing both hind limbs evenly, while not collapsing sideways and bending the metacarpus. Such a “beautiful” landing needs to be worked out immediately, since it is rather difficult to correct an incorrect but familiar pose. Gradually use the treat and the toy less and less to eliminate the dependence of the dog on them. Ideally, your dog should work only for praise.
Practice “Sit!” Command in various places, with crowds of people, in the company of other dogs, in transport, at the entrance, etc. Pay special attention to the exercises called “Door Control” and “Road”. Never let your dog arbitrarily change the desired posture, but for prolonged fixation use the combination of the Sit! Wait!
