My dog is really good at doing the down command. In fact, when I walk and come to a stop, he automatically does a down. What would be a good method to teach him to distinguish between the down and sit? One method I know of is using the leash to guide him, but I dont like to pull up too hard if he doesnt come to a sit because I feel I may be "choking" him....

I use a treat, a really happy voice, and (if necessary) a little hop or backward step to encourage them up into the sit in the beginning. If you want, you can guide with the leash while luring with the treat, but I would not pull them up off the ground with the leash.

Also, I would not practice the down for awhile, work on the sit instead. Make sure that you don't do down from sit too often. Reward well when he sits and praise heavily. Ignore the down (when not commanded) and lure him up into the sit instead.

I find that with some dogs, picking them up with the leash makes the situation worse because they just go floppy. Some dogs lock up, which helps because then you can just set their legs on the ground. Some dogs are really confused by this method. Either way, it is not the kindest method and really is not usually necessary.

Howzit Colin,

How is the dog at sitting from a standing position?

I use a treat to lure them from a down to a sit just like I would from a stand to a sit, while also using the hand signal and/or saying sit.

Eric, he doesnt sit on command...heh..thats where I messed up I think. I worked the "down" so much that he only knows the down. He'll sit from a stand but I guess my timin gis off and I cant reward him properly...

Treats sound about right. I cant believe I forgot to implement treats and luring...

Thanks guys !!

A good way for me to teach a sit from down is luring with a treat. While in the down I put the treat in front of their noses. Then slooowly lift upwards. Usually they will follow. If they don't get it I shuffle close to them and put my feet on/next to their feet so they automatically move to a sit for me. Big reward when they get it right


Another game I like to play is making them do a number of commands before they get praise/treat. I start with an easy sit>down. Then I add sit>stand>sit>down. Start with 2/3 then when they start to understand they have to do more than one thing bump up to 5/6 and so on. Eventually you can get sit/stand/down/sit/down/sit/hi 5/down/stand/hi 5. Work up to this. Vary this so they don't get into a routine.

 Quote: jennifer lee

I use a treat to lure them from a down to a sit just like I would from a stand to a sit, while also using the hand signal and/or saying sit.

Luring is the way to go. However, using the sit or hand signal at the SAME time while luring takes away from the meaning of the command or hand signal. There should be a short delay(1/2 to 1 second) between using the verbal cue 'sit' and luring your dog into the 'sit'.

This delay before luring is important. Why? It has been proven that when verbal cues are introduced WITH physical actions, the dog will pay more attention to the physical action and the verbal cue is often lost to the wind.

Without the short delay, The dog learns that the 'luring motions' mean sit, not the verbal command. With the delay, the dog learns obedience comes from your voice, not your physical actions, and will very quickly respond to the voice only and not wait for the luring motions because the dog wants the reward knows what is expected to get it.

Good training is all in the details.

First, make sure that you can lure the dog from a down to a sit reliable with no command used.

Then, while in a down, command "sit", wait 1/2 to 1 second and then shove the food into their face and lure into the sit position. Mark and reward.

That was a much better explanation!

I was also under the assumption that the dog already knew some sort of sit command which I don't think is the case.