This might surprise you, but I think teaching a dog to sit is one of the the skills your dog really doesn’t need. Now hold on, hear me out before you hate me. It might be convenient but it’s not essential. It’s not a life or death skill, like leave it or recall. And in most contexts when owners tend to use sit, we could easily swap out stand instead. Sit is such an overused, under-rewarded skill. People ask their dog to sit, for no real reason, far too often. Why does your dog need to sit to get a treat? Do you perform a “trick” every time you go to the cookie jar for a snack? Do you perform a “trick” every time before your partner gives you a hug or shows you affection? I doubt it, so why do you ask your dog to perform for snacks or affection? What are we proving?
What’s really important? I think it’s these Core Four skills.
This week’s post is from the archives. Enjoy!
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