I’m planning on getting a dog soon and would love some tips and tricks.
My tip is that when you take your dog for a walk, before crossing any street make them sit and wait for you to tell them to cross.
It helped when my dog got out a few times he would only walk around the block and never cross streets or run into traffic.
I do the same on walks. Other than that, using consistent positive reinforcement and avoiding punishment (ie ignoring Cesar Milan and others like that). And if the dog won’t sit, pull up on the collar instead of down on the butt to guide them. It makes them uncomfortable for a sec but usually they instinctively go to sit.
That’s always come a bit natural, well, usually in training unless it’s hand signals I’ll use both a lift on the neck and a down on the butt. Almost like correcting posture for someone.
You will find a more reliable sit by leading a dog into it rather than trying to move their body for them. The dog needs to move its own body in order for the movement and the word to join together in their brain.
Think about your own learning, is it better for you to learn a task by someone guiding your hands into position or is it better for them to model a behaviour and you to do it yourself? Which method means that you’ll remember tomorrow, next week, next month, etc?
You realise thats a punishment?
It’s not, no. Punishment is generally defined as inflicting something hurtful, not a fleeting discomfort, as reprisal. You still reward the dog when they comply with the “sit” command. Most dogs I’ve trained get “sit” after like 10 tries anyway.
Punishment in behavioral science is even more specific of a term.
A punishment is something unpleasant that creates the reaction you want. You’re saying you’re causing discomfort to your dogs neck in order to make them sit, that is by definition a punishment.
Pushing on the butt is also uncomfortable. You have to do one or the other to get them to sit. I’m not saying to yank the collar and strangle them lol. It’s a gentle little tug