How to fix a lazy sit?

[bolt94]

Hunter has never sat "straight." He had an injury to his left rear leg before we adopted him -- looks like he got caught up in some type of rope or chain and it scared (big time) his rear leg. I wonder if it's uncomfortable for him to sit like that or perhaps he was never trained?!

I'm interested in teaching him the proper way to sit (straight) but I'm not sure how to go about doing this. I've tried having him at my side, up against a wall and asking him to sit but that darn left leg just keeps popping out.

Our training class told me about using the wall and only treating when he sits straight but I just can't seem to get it to work. Should I be a little more persistant? More patience? Put him in the position I want him in?

It's not of high importance but in the event that I want to move past basic obedience courses, it's probably something we should work on.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[GuySusanDurnil]

How old is Hunter? If he's not a year old yet, he might still be sitting like a puppy. Maynard still does that sometimes and he's 9 months old.

[bolt94]

Originally Posted by GuySusanDurnil

How old is Hunter? If he's not a year old yet, he might still be sitting like a puppy. Maynard still does that sometimes and he's 9 months old.

Hunter is three -- give or take a few months.

I guarantee he didn't have proper training which could be the reason he never learned to sit "like a gentleman." However, I know he CAN sit like that because I've seen it. Just didn't know how to go about reinforcing it since I didn't ask him to sit and if I would have praised him, he might have thought I was completely off my rocker, not knowing WHY on earth I was praising him.

[Sargeant_C]

I know they sell some equipment that helps with sitting.. not sure of the name of it though..

[bolt94]

Originally Posted by Sargeant_C

I know they sell some equipment that helps with sitting.. not sure of the name of it though..

Our training facility has a piece of home-made equipment that they sell for $25. It appears to be made out of PVC pipe. I'm half tempted to just buy one even though I know that my DB can make something like that for half the cost. However, I'd need measurements. Or does that not matter?!

[BostonRott]

I would ask your vet if it's physically possible for him to get his leg up under him. It may not be and you're only unfairly frustrating him if that is the case. Straight sits are not that hard to get and if you're having this much trouble, I'd check with your vet. Scar tissue can be very disabling.

As well, in obedience, "straight" refers to the alignment of the spine relative to the handler. I asked about this specifically after Banja's TPLO, in case she couldn't get that leg all the way under herself (she can).

[Snooze]

Jake just turned 12 mos. I've never seen him sit correctly. Shouldn't he be by now?

[FredAl]

Use a ball or tug toy as a reward for the proper sit. Since your dog wants to get up as quickly as possible to retrieve the ball or play tug, he will sit upright, getting ready to bolt up for the reward.

[Imre0538]

To get shyne to sit straight, I have 'faked' a heel, like move my left leg forward and then go right back, and saying 'sit straight' at the same time. That worked pretty well for him, he also would lay sloppy, or do a 'rolling' lay, so putting him against a wall got rid of that.
I agree with BostonRott, he just may not be able to sit square due to his injury, have you ever seen him sit square on his own? It sounds like this may be the case, or is he rolling and sitting on his entire hindquarter more like an 'im just lazy' type of thing?

[Ilovemypuppy]

I find that if I work quicker..short heel and sit, heel and sit. I get straighter sits....but if there is a break in 'the action' she rolls over to one side or the other. On the recall, she will sit straight and roll as I walk away. It's only a few points deduction in ob trials. I do work on it, but I don't obsess about it. Better that she is working comfortably and happy .

Doodling also helps straighten sits...to some degree. More excitement in your voice and body language will help get him on his toes more and that may help with his sits too.

[mrsgrubby]

Everyone is right, it probably hurts your dog. My dog has a leg problem too. If she works to much in class it hurts her to sit right, in fact the longer we work it also hurts to sit wrong. She gets pretty slow at sitting.

However, we are now in advanced obed. and since my instuctors have always been told of her limitations in this area, they "leave her alone" when it comes to her sits.

As long as your instructor understands, her limited sitting ability should not hold you back from advancing in class.

[bolt94]

Originally Posted by Imre0538

have you ever seen him sit square on his own?

I have, actually. But, not very often. And, I never have treats w/ to praise when I do see him sitting straight.

Yesterday we were in the McDonald's drive-thru (I can't go anywhere without a McDonald's coke) and I looked back and he was sitting "straight." I pulled the treats out of my pocket and would say, "good sit" and give him a treat. I did this about three times. I'm sure that's not the proper way but it was the first thing that came to mind.

Last night, we were visiting DB in the garage and I was trying to work with him on a straight sit. He almost had it one time but rolled before I could praise the heck out of him. I stopped after a handful of heel/sits because I didn't want to frustrate him. We ended up working on a few sit/stays, down/stays just so I could reward him.

He doesn't have pain (that I know of) on the rear leg because I'm always touching him all over as part of our ob training. The vet has handled the leg before and he doesn't seem to mind at all.

He could just be lazy and I'm not giving up... yet!

[BostonRott]

You could phyically manipulate my dog's leg and really try to pull it (drawer test) when she tore her cruciate and she didn't bat an eye. YOu have no idea how stoic this breed is and how much they will endure before actually showing you pain.

[kim morton]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

Doodling also helps straighten sits...to some degree. More excitement in your voice and body language will help get him on his toes more and that may help with his sits too.

Sorry, can you explain ... What on earth is doodling? Thanks

[Lynny]

Rocco is 3 and never had a day of training in his life. He sat like a puppy for a little over a year....and now sits like a handsome young man.