Sit means Sit!
“Stay” is implied in the “sit” command. “Sit” does not mean any of the following: bark, whine, growl, scoot, scratch or any other artistic interpretation Fido might come up with. Dogs need a clear picture of what you expect so as soon as Fido puts his butt quietly on the floor, click and reward and immediately give him a release command such as “free” or “okay”.
In the beginning always give this command when Fido is on a leash so you can immediately correct any attempts to get up before being released. Set him
up for success by slowly increasing the length of time you expect from him and the amount of distraction he is exposed to. If he breaks the sit before being released, simply tell him “No” and guide him back into a sit position.
Watch for signs that he is losing interest; three or four short sessions of “sit” in a day are much better than one long one. Also keep it fun for Fido with lots of praise and encouragement. The release command should be active and enthusiastic. We are not programming a robot but encouraging communication with our best friend!
As Fido begins to understand what you are asking, proceed slowly with the following generalization exercises:
Clap your hands and stomp your feet while still holding the leash.
Drop the leash on the floor in front of you.
Squat down a few feet in front of Fido.
Walk around Fido.
Have him sit before serving him dinner.
Don’t get too cocky and go too fast. Build on success rather than depending on corrections. Keep it fun! Trust me, sit happens!