Let’s chat about something that might ruffle a few feathers: the humble "sit". It’s pretty much the very first thing we all teach our dogs. But is it really as important as we think it is?
Why Do We Love "Sit" So Much?
“Sit” is the go-to command for most dog owners. We use it everywhere:
- Before dinner time
- At doorways
- When crossing roads
- To calm an excited puppy
- When meeting people
- Before getting a treat
Sound familiar? But - and here's where I play devil's advocate - what if there were better alternatives for most of these situations?
Rethinking Control vs Understanding
It fascinates me how most people teach "sit" as a way to control their dog's behaviour. Puppy getting excited? "Sit!" Dog pulling towards another dog? "Sit!" But if you think about it, this doesn’t help them learn to manage their emotions. Instead, we're actually making our dogs suppress them.
It's like creating a jack-in-the-box effect. We're getting them to bottle up all that excitement and emotion and then, pop! It all comes bursting out anyway. Instead of teaching them how to be calm, we're just teaching them to temporarily contain their excitement.
A Different Approach to Dinner Time
Take dinner time, for example. Yes, you could make your dog sit before getting their food. I used to do this myself, in fact. But nowadays, I prefer teaching them to just be naturally calm around food. My lot know that patience gets them their grub, no commands needed. They'll happily hang about in the kitchen, no jumping, no fuss, just calm waiting. Isn't that actually more useful than a formal sit?
When "Sit" Really Matters
I'm not saying "sit" isn't useful. But I save it for what I call "sit for safety" situations. You know, those moments when you really need your dog to stay still:
- When you've dropped glass on the floor
- When a tractor's passing on a country walk
- During specific training exercises
The big difference is that these are trained behaviours for specific situations, not a catch-all solution for every scenario.
The 3 D’s for a Reliable Sit
If you do want to teach a rock-solid sit, it's all about the 3 D's:
- Distance (how far away can you be?)
- Duration (how long can they hold it?)
- Distraction (what else is going on?)
The secret is to work on these one at a time, keeping it achievable and always setting your dog up for success. Think tortoise, not hare.
A Common Training Trap
A common mistake is asking for a sit, walking away, then calling your dog to you. It might sound sensible but you're actually teaching your dog that it's okay to break the sit early because they know the recall is coming. Your dog learns patterns incredibly quickly. If you consistently ask for a sit, walk away and then call them, they'll start to anticipate the recall. Suddenly your "stay sitting until I say so" becomes "stay sitting until you think I might want you to move"!
Instead, try this approach:
- When working on sit-stays, always return to your dog to reward them in position
- Keep them guessing - sometimes you might walk away and come straight back, other times you might potter about a bit first
- Mix up your rewards. Sometimes it's a treat, sometimes it's a game, sometimes it's just praise
- If you do want to release them from the sit, use a clear release word rather than a recall
- Practice your recalls separately
Remember, every time you let your dog break a sit early and still reward them, you're weakening that sit. It's like telling them that the rules aren't really the rules. And trust me, our clever pups are quick to work that one out.
The Bottom Line
If sit works brilliantly for you and your dog, then well done, keep it up! But maybe next time your pup's getting excited about something, ask yourself: "Do I need them to sit here, or should I be teaching them how to manage their emotions?" Sometimes, the best instruction is when you say nothing at all.
At the end of the day, there’s rarely just one way to do things in dog training. What matters most is that you find what works best for you and your dog while keeping their emotional wellbeing at the heart of everything you do.
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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/upbdrghf2hhzunr4/myth_bustingak9fz.mp3