28/02/2025
One of the first cues we learn for our dogs is sit.
I find sit problematic for a number of reasons.
POSITIONING - Typically when asking a dog to sit we are standing front on to our dog looking down at them. In dog language this is a rude and intimidating position, which can cause stress to dogs.
POSTURE - Not all dogs have a nice tight sit. If a dog is a sloppy sitter or has knee/hip issues or arthritis, sitting can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.
ENERGY - Have you ever seen a dog in a sit, that is released and bounds into action. Often times jerking their owner along? This is because it’s difficult to ready a dog’s arousal state in a sit position for many people. Think of fizzy drink in a bottle, you can shake it and all appears calm on the outside, crack the lid and the contents go shooting everywhere 😅
USE WAIT INSTEAD
Wait communicates that calm is required before moving to the next motion.
This can be crossing a road, walking through a door, even eating dinner. In all cases, calm is the desired expression we want.
It’s ok for a dog to sniff, pace a little or even lay down. This is giving a dog agency.
If we guide our dog through appropriate behaviours, we can trust them to make good choices 🧡🐾✨
