Learning to sit...

[twalla]

I am taking Sam to Petsmart for their Puppy Class. We have loaded the clicker, we have learned the watch me, we know to come when called, we know how to walk on the leash but do we know how to sit? NO!

Tonite I tried working with Sam again.... I limited his mobility on the leash... didnt work... all he wanted to do was chew on Martin (his Poodle brother). I tried pushing his lil butt down and he would try to chew on my fingers.

He would watch Martin sit but wouldnt do anything.... Now when Martin would lay down, he would lay down.

Will he get this?? The other things he picked up so fast... this one... I dont know. Its so hard to get onto him as well because he is so dang adorable when he is doing something he isnt supposed to. I am alwys trying NOT to laugh.

I guess we will get there eventually. Any tips???

[LoveMyGirlz]

Do you tell him to sit while you have that little treat darn near on his nose, but over his head? You could also do this close to a wall so if he backs up he will be cornered and have to sit?

[blondflava]

I read it somewhere and it worked like a charm for me. With small dogs, they are close to the ground already and they need to be tricked a little. When he's standing still, hold a treat close but not too high above the head. Then move it to the back of the dog, the first impulse will be to sit down if you move it on the head level. (the same with laying down, you move it back first and down after they sit down). my pup got it pretty quickly. good luck!

[twalla]

Thanks for the tips and thats what the trainer told us well. He just wants to do everything but that. When I put the treat a lil over his head.... he leans till he falls over.

We are about to start practicing again. I am going to try close to the wall tho and see if that makes a difference.

TYVM

[Sweetums]

Aren't they the funny little things! Pookie would not lay down to save her life when we tried training her (also with the Petsmart class). All the other dogs were doing it in class, and we tried everything the trainer said, and still she did not get it.

Then after trying and trying at home, I decided to just show her what aI wanted. So I had her sit, which she did just fine, and then put the treat out in front of her as per the trainer's instructions, pulling it further and further away, close to the ground, and then I leaned over her and basically used my body gently bending more and more to the ground with her under me, repeating "down, down, down" until she couldn't avoid flattening herself out on the floor. Mind you I didn't put my weight on her at any time.

Anyway, the moment she flattened herself out and was "down" I practically threw a party for her complete with confetti. I praised her over and over and gave her treats. Then we did it again, and then again and it finally "clicked" in her little head. After that, the moment I'd say "sit" and then even start to say "down", she'd flop herself down faster than I could say the word. And of course, she got a treat every time and still does.

So I suggest you try showing her how to sit, and even though she doesn't actually do it herself, do the happy dance for her, give her treats and repeat until the lightbulb goes off in her head, i.e. "Oooooh, sit = treats!! Ooooooh, now I get it!"

As Karen Pryor says in her book, "Don't Shoot The Dog", even when they come close to performing, give them positive reinforcement, and eventually, they will work their way into doing the actual command.

So maybe use your hand to guide her to sit while you hold the treat over her head? Or have someone else guide her behind to the ground, but then give her major praise and a treat, like she's the smartest doggie in the world.

[crystal_ice4]

I am taking Chino to petsmart now and he will not learn anything so you are in better shape than me. The trainer and I have tried an few things but not luck. So now I have to catch him sitting and them rewrd him. I am going to start practicing 20 min a day now and hopefully he will get it. He is 8 mo old.

[Sweetums]

I'd suggest for anyone who is starting feel frustrated with training, pleeeease read "Don't Shoot The Dog" by Karen Pryor. She is one of the founders of the clicker method of positive reinforcement. She includes some of the fine tuning in her book that the trainers at Petsmart don't include. Not that the Petsmart trainers aren't trying, but there are some details they just don't have time to go over in class. Things like timing issues and examples of how other animals have been trained to do all kinds of stunts including porpoises who are also mammals. All the positive reinforcement techniques work for all mammals in particular. And if you see how they overcame some pretty big resistance on the part of other animals, you also can see how to overcome the resistance in your own animal.

The one main thing you have to know tho, that training classes don't have time to cover is to be aware of unconsciously teaching your dog the opposite of what you want by doing things that are counterproductive. This is extremely important if you want to have success in training your puppy.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

Originally Posted by twalla

I am taking Sam to Petsmart for their Puppy Class. We have loaded the clicker, we have learned the watch me, we know to come when called, we know how to walk on the leash but do we know how to sit? NO!

Tonite I tried working with Sam again.... I limited his mobility on the leash... didnt work... all he wanted to do was chew on Martin (his Poodle brother). I tried pushing his lil butt down and he would try to chew on my fingers.

He would watch Martin sit but wouldnt do anything.... Now when Martin would lay down, he would lay down.

Will he get this?? The other things he picked up so fast... this one... I dont know. Its so hard to get onto him as well because he is so dang adorable when he is doing something he isnt supposed to. I am alwys trying NOT to laugh.

I guess we will get there eventually. Any tips???

Just be patient with them...I am lucky that all my babies learned their tricks and command within an hour...and the neat part about it...i taught them vietnamese before teaching them english commands...kekeek

But in the end..it is well worth it...

[twalla]

Well can you tell I am so proud of him!! Today is his day!!! He didnt use the potty in his crate and just a few minutes ago I was telling Martin to sit and Sam did!!!!!! WELL Luckily I had cheerios right beside me because Sam got one and I went to cheering for him!!!

And I thought, oh is it to good to be true... so I tried it again... Sam, Sit and guess what.... HE DID!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sweetums]

Yaaaaaay! Success! It's amazing when that lightbulb finally goes on in their little heads. Very cool!

[Sherryabear]

I taught Gordon to sit at home, when he was 13 weeks old. He does it every time on command. Except at Petsmart. Yesterday afternoon, was his third lesson, and he wouldn't sit for me or the trainer.
After about 30 minutes of the training, the trainer went and got one of the large furry pads used for the large kennels and place it on the floor.
As soon as she put him on it and gave him the sit command , he did it on the pad. She tried again on the floor and he wouldn't sit.

I did put my hand on the floor and it is cement and was cold. He just didn't want to sit on a cold floor. As soon as we got home, and I gave the command to sit, he once again , did it everytime.

[IluvLucy]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one having a problem with "sit" Last night I held the treat over Rebel's head and used the other hand to ease his little butt down. He'd stay as long as I had my hand on him, then he was off and running! (And every time I told Rebel to sit, Lucy would plop her little chunky butt down so she could have a treat )

Rebel finally had enough! He went way around all the furniture in the living room into the kitchen and stood there peeking at me around the corner. He wouldn't have anything to do with me for about 30 minutes. My son finally picked him up, loved on him a little, and handed him to me so we could "make peace".