Training Guides

Foundation

Sit & Stay: Complete Training Guide

Estimated time: 1-2 weeks | 5-10 minutes per session | 2-3 sessions per day

What You'll Need

• • Small, soft treats (something your dog loves)
• • A quiet room with minimal distractions (to start)
• • Patience and a positive attitude
• • 5-10 minutes per session, 2-3 times daily

Phase 1: The Sit (Days 1-3)

1. 1. Hold a treat close to your dog's nose, then slowly raise it above their head. As their nose follows the treat up, their rear will naturally lower into a sit. The moment their rear hits the ground, say "Yes!" and give the treat.
2. 2. Repeat 10 times per session. After your dog is sitting reliably with the lure, start saying "Sit" just before you raise the treat.
3. 3. Once your dog responds to "Sit" consistently, begin fading the treat lure. Say "Sit" with an open hand signal (no treat visible). Reward from your other hand when they comply.
4. 4. Practice until your dog sits on the verbal cue alone, without any hand motion. This typically takes 2-3 days of practice.

Phase 2: Adding Duration (Days 4-7)

1. 1. Ask your dog to "Sit." Instead of immediately treating, wait 2 seconds, then say "Yes!" and treat. If they break the sit, simply ask again — no correction needed.
2. 2. Gradually increase the wait time: 2 seconds → 5 → 10 → 15 → 20 → 30 seconds. Only increase when your dog succeeds 4 out of 5 times at the current duration.
3. 3. If your dog struggles at a duration, drop back to the previous level and build up again. Training isn't linear — that's normal.
4. 4. Add the word "Stay" once your dog can hold the sit for 5+ seconds. Say "Sit," pause, say "Stay," wait, then "Yes!" and treat.

Phase 3: Adding Distance (Days 7-14)

1. 1. Ask your dog to "Sit, Stay." Take one small step back, immediately return, say "Yes!" and treat. The key: return TO the dog to reward, don't call them to you.
2. 2. Gradually increase distance: 1 step → 2 → 3 → 6 feet. Only increase when your dog succeeds consistently at the current distance.
3. 3. When working at 6 feet, hold the stay for 30 seconds before returning to reward.
4. 4. Add a release word like "OK" or "Free" to signal the stay is over. This teaches your dog that THEY don't decide when to get up — you do.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Increasing too fast. If your dog fails more than 2 out of 5 reps, you've increased difficulty too quickly. Go back a step.
• ❌ Repeating the cue. Say "Sit" once. If they don't respond, wait 5 seconds, then try again. Repeating teaches them to ignore the first cue.
• ❌ Calling them out of the stay. Always return to your dog to reward. Calling them to you teaches them to break the stay.
• ❌ Long sessions. Keep it to 5-10 minutes. Short, fun sessions beat long, boring ones every time.

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