Basic Training Tuesday: Sit

Just got a new puppy? Basic training is crucial to the well being and safety of not only your dog, but those around you as well.  Not only does it allow you to be able to control your dog better, but training actually strengthens the bond between you and your dog! Intelligent dogs often enjoy training because they get the mental stimulation they crave. One of the simplest commands to teach your dog is "Sit."

What you will need:

• Dog
• Training Treats
• *Clicker (Optional)

Preparation: Gather a few training treats.  They should, preferably, be small, bite-sized treats with minimal calories. We like to use Charlie Bears Liver Treats, but you can use whatever you'd like.  Many people also like to use tiny pieces of unseasoned chicken. If you plan to use a clicker, be sure you have that with you now.

It is best to work on training in a quiet room without too much distraction or stimulation.  Try to stay away from other animals, loud television or music, and other people. Do not scold your dog or raise your voice if he does not get the hang of the command easily.  The key is to use only positive association and to remain calm and positive.


Step One: Let your dog see that you have the treat.  You can hold it out so your dog can see and smell its presence.  Do not give your dog the treat yet.

Step Two: Move the treat closer to your dog, moving it slightly upwards as you move it forward. The treat should be high enough that your dog cannot reach it, but not so high that the dog jumps up to try.  He should lower his butt to the ground as he moves backwards, following the treat.  Click and reward as soon as your dog's butt touches the ground!

Step Three: Repeat steps one and two until your dog begins to obey consistently. Once he seems to understand the command, you can begin adding in the voice command. State the command as your dog performs the desired command. Be consistent.  If you say "sit" the first time, you must say "sit" every time after that. Try not to say variations of the command (ie: "sit down," "get down," etc.) or else you might confuse your dog.

Try to avoid repeating yourself too much when stating a command. "Sit." is much different than "sitsitsitsitsit." Give your dog a bit of time to recognize what you want before repeating yourself.

Follow these simple steps, and your dog should follow the sit command with ease in no time! To be sure they stay in practice, the Monsters always sit for treats, breakfast, and dinner.


Special thanks to Suzy for being our demonstrator for today!

BarkBox Review: October 2015

Contents of this month's box:

Bocce's Bakery Awesome Dog Biscuits with Chicken ($10)
These treats are not only all natural and simple (they only contain four ingredients!), but they also smell pretty nice compared to other dog treats. Even our pickiest dog, Chuey, loves them! Made from oat flour, chicken, pumpkin, and rosemary, I would definitely buy these again.

Barkmade Peek-a-Boo-Hoo ($15)
Let me just say this: this toy is absolutely adorable. The toy itself is a witch's hat with a crinkly brim, and inside is a removable little owl with a squeaker inside. The toy is well-made, durable, and very soft. Unfortunately, none of the current Monsters are huge fans of squeakie toys like Mesa was; it is a cute toy, nonetheless.

Etta Says Peanutbutter GO Treats ($3)
These small treats would work well as training treats. They are quite small and the dogs love them. These would also be useful on car trips or trips to the vet for positive associations. It is a very cute and innovative idea, and once the treats are gone, you can still refill it with other small treats! We will probably be ordering more of these as Suzy managed to pop the top off and eat half the container.

Villain's Salmon Half Cigar ($4)
Despite the horrifically strong fish smell, I love getting these. The salmon skin is so good for skin and coat health, and it keeps the Monsters entertained! Even Chuey, who isn't particularly fond of chews (doesn't that sound weird?), was excited to get this.
(We decided to cut ours into three pieces so each Monster could get a piece!)

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Overall, this month's Barkbox was cute, although there didn't seem to be much of a theme to it. It also had far fewer items than usual, however that could be due to the higher price of some of the items included.