One of the coolest tricks you can teach is sitting petty. Like dancing, it develops a sense of balance and strengthens the back muscles, so most dogs may not be able to perform it perfectly straight away, but after a little practice, they are guaranteed to melt their owner’s heart with it.
Task:
👉 Take a treat in your hand, sit the dog in front of you and slowly raise your hand high in front of her nose, enticing her to rise after it too.
👉 As soon as her first two legs rise, praise and reward her, making sure she gets the treat while she’s still in the air.
👉 Repeat this, gradually increasing your expectations. If she stands on four feet, sit her back down and start again.
👉 If she’s doing well, also add the command words, “pretty” or “sit pretty”.
Tips:
👉 It helps if you start the exercise by placing the dog in a corner or with her back against you so that the wall or your legs support her back.
👉 Avoid slippery surfaces during exercises to avoid injuries and to make your dog feels safer.
👉 Dip a wooden spoon in something tasty and use this instead of your hands. It will take much longer for your dog to stay on two feet for the first time if she can keep licking the spoon instead of taking a bite.
👉 Don’t teach this to puppies and older dogs, or at least only in very small steps with infrequent exercises.
👉 It helps if you use a clicker to confirm even small steps quickly and accurately.
