Build Stay Duration Around Food (Sit Position)

Use this once your dog can hold a down-stay around food and you want to add the sit.

  1. 1Stand near your dog with their meal in a bowl on a chair beside you, positioned so they can't reach it.
  2. 2Cue the sit, then mark and reward by reaching for a treat and delivering it directly to your dog's mouth.
  3. 3Repeat at a quick pace at first, for about 10 treats in a row.
  4. 4Release with your release cue and toss a treat away. When your dog returns, re-cue the sit and begin again.
  5. 5Gradually slow your pace until you can wait 1 to 3 seconds between deliveries without your dog breaking the sit.
  6. 6Continue slowing your delivery further as your dog succeeds, using the same ping-pong method of varying duration.

Reward rapidly at first, then vary the time between rewards instead of making every repetition harder.

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