Sit is the most basic dog command out there, and it’s probably one of the first things your Jack Russell will learn besides his name. It is one of the most useful commands and also extremely easy to teach, making it an essential part of Jack Russell training. It is useful in preventing many problem behaviors common to Jack Russells, such as jumping on visitors and suddenly running away for no apparent reason. These are easy step-by-step instructions for teaching a Jack Russell to sit.
1. Find a treat your dog likes. This can be a food reward, or it can be a toy or game. If you plan on using a toy as a reward, keep in mind that this will likely increase the amount of time you spend training, as it takes longer to play a game than it does to quickly gobble up some dog biscuit. But you should use whatever reward your dog responds to the most. I find that bits of cut sausage or grated cheese are good treats for Jack Russells. Don’t overdo it, though: too many treats can make your dog overweight, and too much cheese can cause constipation. The idea is to give a very small amount of a food that your dog values a lot.
2. Find a quiet place with no distractions to start. Have several pieces of the treat ready to go. Take a small piece of the treat (or a toy, if that’s what you’re using) and hold it up in front of your JRT to get its attention. Hold it in front of your nose; at this point, he may start licking your fingers. That’s fine, but don’t give him the award yet.
3. Slowly pull the treat up and back. You should try to move it along an imaginary line from the tip of your dog’s nose to the middle of the forehead. (If your JRT has a white stripe down the middle of its head, draw food along that line.) Now, as you do this, the dog will naturally begin to move backwards, his hind legs bending as his head tilts. get up, and he will sit down. At this point, immediately mark the action by saying “Good dog” or something similar of your choice, and immediately give him the treat.
4. Do not give the treat if the dog’s front legs come off the ground. Sometimes Jack Russells get so excited that they drop the leg of the treat and try to climb up your hand. In this case, keep the treat low to the ground. Only give the treat when the dog’s front legs are on the ground and his butt is touching the ground. Use your other hand to gently press down on it if necessary, but never use force, especially with a puppy. Just gently guide him into the correct position, praise and reward.
5. After the dog is used to the action and can sit regularly when offered a treat, begin to introduce the verbal command “Sit.” The command must be given immediately before the action to create an association, so say “Sit” just as you bring the treat to your dog’s nose.
6. When the dog fully understands the verbal command and can sit consistently, stop rewarding every Sit and only reward randomly. From time to time, give an extra large treat to make your dog work harder.
7. If the dog is still too hyper to train properly, try taking him for a walk before training.
8. If the dog is not interested in the treat, try training him when he is hungry, or experiment with new treats and toys until you find something that catches his eye.
Follow these tips and you will find Jack Russell training much easier from now on.
