How long did it take your puppy to learn to sit?

[Loueese]

Lovely lab puppy joined us 5 days ago and we’ve been training sit by holding the treat above her mouth so that she naturally sits and then saying sit and giving her the treat. I’m not saying I expect her to do it now with no treat or anything but I’m just wondering how long it usually takes before they get it?

[SlightAggrandising]

Genuinely took mine about 2 days. Less maybe. She's a Weimaraner and I still maintain it was the most important thing I taught her. To sit before she gets any attention at all. It's a godsend!!

[Loueese]

SlightAggrandising very jealous/ in awe. What did you do to teach her?

[Loueese]

It’s our first dog so we’re a bit unsure

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

It took my golden retriever a few “sessions” of doing what you’re doing but he is very food oriented. I think as soon as he saw me reaching for the treat pouch he knew what I was going to ask him. It made it a bit trickier to them teach new commands like lie down and stand because he thought treat meant sit.

[ArkAtEe]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, you're doing the same thing I did! We rescued an 8 week old complete mutt and he learnt sit and paw the first day we had him home, he also does a bunch of other tricks like play dead etc -- but he's a very fearful dog and barks/growls at dogs he doesn't know - so you win some and you lose some! If I was you I'd focus on good manners around other dogs and getting a good recall (especially around other dogs on leads that might be a growler like mine...!)

[BiteyShark]

I think it's a bit of 'how long is a piece of string'.

Mine got sit quickly with a treat (a couple of days) but he never got lie down until recently (he is now 2). Also with a treat was easy but getting him to sit and keep sitting, sitting outside in the garden or just sit to command was something that had to be built up over many weeks/months.

Keep doing it (short intervals so they don't get bored or tired) and they will get there eventually.

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

Btw OP as well as teaching sit, very very important is to teach recall. It’s probably the most important command you can teach. It can save life. Don’t let your pup off lead in public until you have 100% reliable recall. I realise I sound evangelical but it’s awful seeing so many dogs out and about completely ignoring their owner. So dangerous.

Also good for larger dogs is to teach four on the floor unless otherwise commanded. So no jumping up. And teach all the people in your house how to “be a tree” to discourage jumping up.

[Loueese]

What are your best tips for teaching recall? Hoping to learn from all you experienced dog owners

[SlightAggrandising]

I use this site for advice. I think you have to try different things to see what works for your dog. They're all motivated differently!!

www.thelabradorsite.com

[missyB1]

Oh God it took our mini schnauzer weeks, and she never grasped lie down or get down. Mind you I think she understands well enough she’s just very stubborn and everything is done on her terms! 😁
Love her to bits though and would happily get another Schnauzer!

[ArkAtEe]

For a puppy we played hide and seek around the house and he loves this still 3 years later. One person keep him with them whilst the other person goes in another room, the other person calls the puppy and gives them a treat when puppy finds them. As pup gets better you can hide more from them and watch as they run around the house trying to look for them, it's fun! Also whilstles can work better for some dogs - doesn't have to be a dog whistle, can be a normal one

[Wallywobbles]

Our very stupid springer took 6 months.

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

Yes they are all different. You just need to work out what motivates him. Some dogs will work for food. Some will work for cheese only! Others for a favourite toy, others for a game of fetch. Sometimes you need to vary it to keep them interested. Keep your sessions short, a few minutes at a time. If he gets bored end the session and try again later. I would do sessions before he has eaten as then he is hungry and likely to want the treat. Keep distractions to a minimum when introducing a new command and gradually introduce distractions/change location etc. And get everyone in the house to do the training so he knows he has to listen to everyone and not just mum or dad. (Make sure everyone is following the same method)

[ArkAtEe]

Yes we did a lot of what MaxiBondi suggests, all good advice. My dog does a lot of things without needing food but will only give you his ball with a bribe of a treat, and it can't be anything hard - it has to be soft like cheese or chicken...!

On walks you can teach recall with a long training lead or an extendable lead.

[BiteyShark]

For recall we let ours off lead at around 4 months. We should have done it straight away but we were afraid he would run off but a trainer said we need to do it before he hit adolescence otherwise they will be off. When they are little they stick to you because they are afraid as you are their world. If I could turn the clock back as soon as they could walk outside I would have done it rather than waiting.

Before we tried outside we had already taught him to come back to a whistle, first in the house then in the garden. I have an acme whistle so if I ever lose it I can get another one with exactly the same pitch. When he ran back I would do 4 short pips and then reward with cheese.

We had recall fine until he hit teenage deafness so whilst he chose to then ignore me he did know what he should do so when he grew up and started listening again he knew whistle meant come back for a reward. We don't use food anymore because his favourite thing in the world is a ball so we throw the ball when he comes back (we still occasionally reinforce the recall command even though he never ventures far anymore).

[spot102]

That brings back memories:

Me: SIT
Spot looks blankly at me

Me: SPOT SIT!
Spot continues to look blank

Me: offs, grabs treat, SPOT SIT!
Spots bottom hits floor in a nanosecond

Read into that what you will!!

[ferretface]

It took our border collie about half an hour! Ok it's a border collie but genuinely life changing training tip - don't bother with the lure. Just say SIT GOOD BOY whenever you see pup in the act of sitting, and treat them. They will quickly cotton on

[adaline]

Mine is 11 months and will sit with a treat 95% of the time. However without a treat? Fat chance! He does occasionally if he knows I have food in my pocket or coming back from a recall but if I'm out and I say "adalinedog, sit" he just looks blankly at me and barks!

However he is a beagle and they're notoriously stubborn! If I have food in my hand he'll do pretty much anything - he can sit, give both paws alternately, give high and low fives with both paws individually and together, spin in a circle, lie down, army crawl and touch his nose on command! If I have no food, however, I don't even bother trying

[Detoxpup]

If your dog is not sitting or going down (and is healthy no issues o injuries) with a lure your are doing the lure incorrectly so watch the positioning of your lure. Needs to be correct distance from the dog and the correct position