How to Teach your dog to Sit

Teach your dog to sit and it will help you keep your Weimaraner under control when she is excited or anxious.

“Sit” is the primary command for any puppy, including Weimaraners. There are many reasons for this, but safety ranks at the top of the list.

A Weimaraner puppy startles and becomes distracted as easily as any other young dog, and this can put him in harm’s way.

By training your dog to sit on command, you can protect and control your dog’s actions in difficult situations, even from a distance.

Obedience Training for Sitting

Choose a specific command for “sit” and a reward–and use both regularly. Some trainers suggest combining hand signals with verbal cues.

Your puppy needs to understand the concept of “sit” before this combination works, however.

Once he associates the word with the actual act of sitting, you can add a hand signal as reinforcement (such as two fingers on one hand moving from parallel to the ground, down to the ground).

Sit Command to Alter Behavior

In addition, we all want to have well behaved dogs that others like to have around.  If your dog jumps up on people, that’s a problem.

Some people are really frightened when a large dog jumps up on them, and others who are older and frail, could actually fall down.

If your dog sits on command, you can nip this problem in the bud!

Last, and not least important, is your dog’s response to you in the field.  When you are hunting, there is no place for a dog that does not obey your commands.  Teaching your dog to sit will help keep him safe in the field.

How to Teach Your Dog to Sit

Your Weimaraner has tons of energy, so go to a quiet space for training your puppy, one where you can minimize distractions.

Treats Work

When you are ready to begin your lesson, make sure you have a pocket of small, tasty treats.

1. Squat down beside your puppy, with a treat in your hand.
2. Hold the puppy treat or small piece of food just above your dog’s nose and say, “Sit”.
3. While you are doing this, slowly move the food straight back so that it ends up behind your puppy’s head.
4. Your puppy will reach for the food, and, as he lifts his head to get the treat, his bottom will automatically end up on the ground, sitting.
5. Give your puppy lots of praise (and the treat).

Repeat this several times.  Practice makes perfect.

Use Hand Signals to Get your Dog to Sit

Whether you have a deaf dog or a puppy who will hunt with you, hand signals give you another way to communicate with your dog.

Here are some things to keep in mind for hand signals:

• Try out different motions and gestures until you are comfortable.  Keep in mind that each signal should be different from the others, so that your dog is not confused.
• You can use any part of your body.  It doesn’t have to be just your hands.  For example, if you are hunting and your hands are holding a rifle or shotgun, consider tapping your toe for down.  You can do things like shrug your shoulders, bow your head, raise your eyebrows or tilt your head to the side.
• The Release Command is the equivalent of the word, “OK”.  You can use this signal to let your dog know that the session is over and she is free to do what she wants.
• To signal your displeasure to your dog, you might wag your finger back and forth.  This is like saying “no” to a child.

Here’s another example.  To signal that you want your dog to sit, you might try this.  Hold your hand in a fist close to your body.  Raise your index finger or bend your elbow with your open hand palm-out toward your dog and say “Sit”.

This looks like the “How” sign that Indians used to greet others in old Western movies.

Now, use less drama with your hand signal and give a verbal command.  It won’t be long until your puppy understands what the command, “Sit” means.

Practice your puppy’s new command for a short session, say, 5-10 minutes at a time.  Puppies do have limited attention spans, so give your puppy a break when she needs it.

To make your life easier, take a look at Doggie Dan’s simple but effective dog training videos.  You can view dozens of training videos here.

Practice Makes Perfect

Set aside a few minutes each day for your Weimaraner puppy to practice learning how to sit on command.

If you have a family, make sure all family members use the same commands or signals. Otherwise you will confuse your dog.

Practice only one command or “trick” at a time.  Let your puppy master one command at a time, then move on to commands like “stay” or “lie down”.

If you remain consistent with praise and rewards it shouldn’t be long before obeying the “sit” command becomes second nature to your dog.

Choose training treats, that are healthy for your dog, keeping in mind that Weimaraners are an active breed and need good nutrition.

Using Treats to Teach your Dog to Sit

Not every dog training treat is right for your Weim.

Small dog breeds simply can’t handle great big dog treats and large chews, but larger breeds shouldn’t have too much to eat, either. But they do love a treat as a reward when you are teaching your dog to sit!

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing dog treats:

• Size of dog treat – Weimaraner puppies do well with smaller or mini dog treats. Many dog treats come in different sizes. Check to see how large the treats are—before you order!
• Hard or soft – As Weimaraners get older, many have difficulty with bad teeth. If your rescue dog is now a senior with poor teeth and gums, you should consider getting soft dog treats, instead of the hard ones she ate as a young dog.
• Flavors – While many of us have become very cost conscious, don’t forget your dog’s favorite flavors. Every dog will develop likes and dislikes, so don’t spend less money and get dog treats that your dog simply doesn’t like…
• Age of your dog – Since most of us give our dogs more treats than we should, make sure that the treats are age-appropriate for your dog and they add nutrients to your dog’s diet…

Teaching your dog to sit should be one of the first obedience commands that you work on.  This one is crucial, as it is a way to calm your dog under stress or get him under control in a confusing or dangerous situation.

When he has mastered “sit”, then you can move on to another command.  Weimaraners are smart dogs, so you both should have a good time with this, as your dog will learn quickly!