How to teach a dog to sit

Hold a treat just above your dog's nose and slowly move it back over their head — as their nose follows up, their bottom naturally drops. The instant they sit, mark it with 'yes' and give the treat. After a few reps add the word 'sit', then fade the treat lure. Most dogs learn a reliable sit in a single short session.

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Step by step

Hold a treat at your dog's nose, then move it slowly back over their head.
As their head goes up and back, their rear drops into a sit — mark the moment with 'yes' and reward.
Repeat 5–10 times until the motion is smooth.
Now say 'sit' just before you lure, so the word predicts the action.
Fade the food lure: make the same hand motion with an empty hand, then reward from the other hand.
Practice in short bursts in different rooms and situations so the cue works everywhere.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can a puppy learn to sit?

As early as 8 weeks. Puppies have short attention spans, so keep sessions to a couple of minutes and make it fun.

My dog only sits when I have a treat — why?

The treat became part of the cue. Fade it: use an empty-hand signal, reward from your other hand or pocket, and mix in praise so food isn't always visible.

Should I push my dog's bottom down?

No — luring with a treat lets the dog figure it out themselves, which they learn faster and enjoy more. Physical pushing can make dogs resist.