Learn the Secrets of Successfully
Training Your Dog to Dothe Basic
Sit, Drop, Stand and Come Actions.

Most people want to learn the basics of training their dog to sit, drop, stand and come. Some say they also want their dog to obey the stay command. But in fact you do not need the stay command, because if the dog is obeying another command e.g. sit – then it should stay in that command position until released.

In lesson 1 I introduced you to the clicker method of training. In this lesson I will describe the clicker and the obedience club training for each of these commands – plus I will add another associated trick!

The video below will show how Cooper will follow the commands, running in a sequence, with me a fair distance away from him.

 Click on picture to see video

SIT – is usually the first command you teach your dog. But if you intend showing your dog, you probably should not teach him this for a few weeks as you do not want him to sit in the show ring.

Obedience training tells you to hold the leash up while gently pushing on the pup’s rear end and saying ‘sit’ as you do this. Every time you stop in a walk, you repeat it so that the dog learns to sit every time that you stop. The latter part of this action is a good one, as it is handy to always have your dog sit if you are standing still.

With the clicker you bait the pup with a food treat. By this I mean that you use the food to make him follow it. Simply hold the food above his head (not too far – you don’t want him jumping for it) and slowly move your hand with the food backwards over his head.

As he tries to keep the food in sight he is likely to drop his haunches. As soon as he begins to drop the hind quarters, click and give him the food. Do this again and again, each time until he is sitting.

So far, you have not spoken. When he gets the idea that he is to sit to get rewarded and will do this pretty frequently, add the command ‘sit’. You can also add a hand signal.

With sufficient practise the dog will sit to either the voice command or the signal. And what is good is that you do not have to have the leash on to get the pup to sit.

DROP – is the next command and is a natural progression to ‘sit’ when using the clicker technique. This exercise is one that can create great battles in dog obedience, particularly if the dog is a large one or the puppy is flighty. Remember, in the drop position the dog naturally sees itself as being in a position of danger. He can be attacked. So he does not want to voluntarily go into that position.

You are asked to sit the dog then either/or pull down on the lead and/or lift the front legs together while pushing the dog down. Is it any wonder that the dog puts up a fight!

Using the clicker method, have the pup sit and then use the hand with food in it to bait the dog. This time (again, standing in front of the dog), bring your hand to the floor in front of him. As soon as his front quarters and head is moving towards the floor, click.  It won’t take long for him to go right down to the floor. Once he is doing this pretty consistently, add the command ‘drop’. You can also add a hand signal.

Only click and reward when he obeys your command. Remember, don’t keep repeating the command. Give it once – if he does not obey, don’t click or reward. As your dog gets used to this method, it won’t take him long to realise he has to work out what to do, or he does not get rewarded. I have seen an owner wait for three minutes (it seemed like half an hour) without speaking or doing anything and finally the dog obeyed!

If he just won’t obey or seems really confused, go back to the beginning. Bait him and go through the process again. This can refresh their memory and it makes you feel more comfortable too.

STAND – this is the first command a show puppy should learn as he has to hold a stand position and be examined by a judge. In obedience training you will be instructed to hold the lead up slightly and move your hand in a long action against the side of the dog (without actually touching it) while saying ‘stand’ in a long drawn out voice.

In the show ring, many dogs are stacked during this process (stood in the correct show stance) by actually positioning their legs, tail etc.

With the clicker method, when the dog is standing, you click and reward. Bring the command ‘stand’ in a lot earlier than normal, because you are rewarding the natural action of the dog. You can also add a hand signal. This command comes in useful for many tricks that you may want to teach your dog.

You can decide on which methods you want to use after you have checked out this book on dog training.

COME – an essential command that you want obeyed each and every time you use it. When there are many distractions e.g. another dog around, it is more difficult for your dog to obey as his positive reinforcement comes from the possibility of a ‘romp’ with the other dog, rather than the food incentive you are offering.

In dog obedience the actions taught for ‘come’ are all good and can be used with the clicker method too. The main difference is that the dog responds for praise in obedience, rather than a food reward.

The important thing here to remember is not to move too far away from the dog until you are absolutely sure he will not break. If he does break before you call him to come, you are either too far away or asking him to wait too long for the command.

Sit the dog and move in front of him, still holding the lead. Say ‘come’ and offer the food. Click. Repeat this a few times and use a long lead so that you can move further away each time. Once he will come every time use a hand signal as well as the voice command.

Make sure when he returns to you that he sits squarely in front of you. He is likely to do this automatically because you have a food reward, but if he doesn’t, give the ‘sit’ command.

To get him to go around you and sit by your left side, ready for the next activity you want to undertake. Obedience training will have you give gentle tugs to pull the dog from sitting facing you to move to your right side, behind you and to your left side.

With the clicker method you have a piece of food in your hand to bait him, and move your hand with the food behind your back and change it to your left hand. It won’t take long for your dog to follow your hand around. He completes the action by sitting at your left side (this may need the voice command of ‘sit’) You then click and reward him.

Once he has the action worked out, introduce a hand signal and he should follow it. Watch the video below to see a demonstration of Cooper obeying the ‘come’ command with out a lead.

Click on picture to see video

Now – I told you I would introduce a new trick for you!
This activity is for your dog to SLEEP. Place your dog in the drop position and again lower your hand to the floor with food, this time slightly further away from him. When he places his head flat on the floor, click.

The command is ‘sleep’. However you also want him to ‘wake’ by lifting his head (still in the drop position). Here the hand signal can be very important. When a few steps away from him, try lowering your right hand in a flat position down to the floor as you say ‘sleep’ – you stay bent with your hand on the floor, then slowly raise your hand (and your body) and say ‘wake’.

As soon as he lifts his head click and reward. It is important not to stand too far away from him until he gets the idea. Food in your hand will help him ‘wake’, too.

There is a very comprehensive book available on dog training and it goes through techniques for the Sit, Drop, Stand and Come commands too. It can be very interesting for you to read of different techniques and decide on which best suits you and your dog.