Like many dog teachers, I used to teach my puppies to “sit” as a default = what to do in the absence of a cue. I’d be proud that my puppies would offer a “sit” and wait for me to tell them what to do next… all the time! I haven’t been doing this for many years now and there are 3 reasons:
Reason #1: Let’s look at “sit” from a Physiological perspective:
I see so many puppies and adult dogs who do not know how to sit properly (= straight) because:
- They don’t have the muscle strength to assume or maintain the position: this applies especially to very young and older dogs
- Their structure doesn’t allow them to sit comfortably: certain breeds, or individuals are just not built to sit.
- They have never learned to sit straight.
I used to shape this behavior and would reward any position where my puppy’s butt was on the floor, regardless if they were flopping onto the side -> you get what you reward!
When I teach any position nowadays, I always use luring so I can control how they move into position and how they stay in the position. I will only add duration when they are correct. Whenever form is lost = flopping onto the side, I’ll release them from the position with a re-set cookie and set up for a new repetition. It’s easiest when good habits are formed right from the very beginning and dogs will maintain these throughout their life. They are creatures of habit, just like us!
The importance of proper form is purely for physiological reasons for me, but it may well be of relevance in dog sports like competitive obedience. By teaching dogs how to move their body correctly and build good muscle memory, we also improve their long term health.
I’d like to direct your attention to an article by Turid Rugaas about an ongoing study about this topic.
Reason #2 is from a Behavior perspective:
While a “sit” may be useful in some situations, where it is incompatible with unwanted behaviors like jumping up, there are many more circumstances where a static “sit” can be rather detrimental. Working with a lot of reactive dogs I have seen first-hand that a “sit” enables tension to grow in the face of distractions, which eventually leads to big reactions, kind of like a pressure cooker. Allowing dogs to maintain eye contact = looking at the exciting or scary thing more often than not escalates and turns ugly, before the owners realize what is happening. If something doesn’t work, try something else!
Instead, I prefer to use a variety of games that get my dog moving, like tossing individual pieces of food on the ground for them to sniff out, or simply using giving-to-leash-pressure strategies to move my dog away from the situation. We have to teach the skill of Disengagement in a neutral environment first and getting their feet moving helps their brain to disengage.
Reason #3 is from a Training perspective: A default “sit” often gets in the way of a dog’s ability to offer other behaviors! I love teaching tricks and if all my dog can think of doing is to “sit”…. it limits their creativity and ability to think!
I do teach a “sit” to all my dogs at some point, but it will always be a cued behavior. I certainly don’t mean to discourage anyone from teaching their dog to “sit” but please consider if it’s necessary or appropriate in any given situation.
Observing your dog’s natural posture can be very useful in determining when there is something off and maybe a trip to the chiropractor or massage therapist is warranted! I’ve often noticed these subtle changes in my dogs and knew that there was a physical issue which needed to be addressed, long before they showed any signs of discomfort or lameness.
In closing, I hope that I have provided some food for thought: maybe observe your dog whether they often sit on their own, or do they never sit unless cued? Does your dog look comfortable in that position and moving out of it? What does your dog look like when they are sitting: nice and square with a straight back -> great! Or is their back roached, legs sticking out, rolling onto one hip?
Pawsome Connection Dog Training & Behavior 