“Rambunctious, rumbustious, delinquent dogs become angelic when sitting.” - Dr. Ian Dunbar, dog  behaviorist
 

Four Easy Steps to teach SIT

1. Use a tasty treat held with your first two fingers and thumb as a lure.

2. With your dog standing, hold the treat directly in front of his mouth, almost touching his lips. Slowly raise the teat in an arch from the front of his lips to slightly above his head.  Most dogs will follow the treat with their noses causing their bottoms to end up on the ground in SIT position.

3. When (as soon as) your dog’s bottom hits the ground Click and Treat.  The click is used to tell your dog what he did right and why he is being rewarded.

4. After  several repetitions of steps 1-3 begin to add the verbal cue (command) “Sit” before you move the treat.  Continue using the clicker to mark the behavior.

Four Easy Steps to Teach DOWN

1. Use a tasty treat held with your first two fingers and thumb as a lure.

2. With your dog sitting, hold the treat directly in front of his mouth, almost touching his lips. Slowly lower the lure straight down to the ground, under his nose.  Most dogs will follow the treat with their noses causing them to end up in a Down.

3. When (as soon as) your dog’s elbows touch the ground Click and Treat.  The click is used to tell your dog what it was that he did right and why he is being rewarded.

4. After  several repetitions of steps 1-3 begin to add the verbal cue (command) “Down” before you move the treat.  Continue to use the clicker to mark the behavior.

Four Easy Steps to Teach OFF

1. Hold a low value treat in your hand and say “OFF” in a quiet voice.  As soon as your dog backs up, even slightly, click and offer the treat saying “Take It”.

2. Repeat until the dog begins to back away at once when offered the closed hand and “OFF” cue.

3. Begin to open your hand a little and say “OFF” until your dog backs away from your open hand.

4. After your dog is quite good at “OFF” from your hand, try it with a treat on the floor.  Be ready to cover the treat with your hand or foot to ‘protect’ it.

Four Easy Steps to Teach TOUCH

1. Begin with your dog in front of you and your hand at your side.  Move one hand out and toward your dog.  If your dog moves his nose to touch your hand Click and Treat. You must not touch your dog but instead your dog must touch you.

2. Repeat until your dog will touch your hand as soon as you offer it.  Add the verbal cue “Touch”, “Target”, “Bop” or “Poke”.