Automatic Sit with Heel

Automatic Sit happens when the concept that your dog is to sit when you stop, sinks in. It requires consistency on your part. Every time you stop when Heeling, you should be placing him a sit and holding it for 30 seconds. When you resume Heeling, be sure you remember to issue the Heel command.

Heel for 10 - 15 paces and sit for 30 seconds -- Repeat 10 times. He should be starting to sit on his own when you stop. When he does start to ‘get the hint’, you should start to expect the sit.

1. Heel, stop, say SIT; no response - Sit Placement
2. Heel, stop, say SIT; response - Praise
3. Heel, stop, say SIT; slow or slight response - Sit Correction

Sit Correction: Place both hands just above where the leash clips onto the collar. Pull upward and backward at the same time. This movement pulls them up onto their toes and pushes them off balance to land on their haunches (use only as much strength as necessary - do not overpower or you will encourage defiance). Once in the sit, maintain a light contact to keep them in this position. If you maintain too much of a contact to keep them in the sit, they will fight and squirm. “Speed is a better tool than strength”.

Practice this 10 minutes a day or every other day. Too much practice will frustrate him and you. Incorporate this into your daily walks. The more you take these commands and infiltrate them into day to day life, the better trained dog you will have.

NOTE: If you only practice in the backyard, he will only listen in the backyard. Dogs thrive on routine. Teach in one environment and test him in another. That way when an emergency happens, he will be prepared to listen. i.e., leash breaks and there is another dog across the busy road playing ball.