Sit and Stay can be a challenge for many dogs. Most dogs will learn to "sit" with your help. As you hold a treat in your hand, ask for a "sit," while keeping the treat very close to the dog's nose. Now move the treat upwards in an arc, over the dog's head. Work slowly and remember to breath. If the dog jumps up or loses focus, start over. As the dog's bottom touches the ground, say "good sit" and offer the treat to the dog. The hand gesture can also become a visual for the command "sit."

Once the dog is offering "sit" consistently, you can start adding "stay" to training. As you treat for a good "sit" move your hand into a "stay" visual (palm facing the dog, very close to his nose) and ask for a "stay." For most dogs, it helps that your hand already smells like treats! As you take a breath, say "good stay" and treat thedog. This may be as long as a "stay" can last at first. But with some repetition, "stay" can lengthen.

Remember that training sessions should not go too long and that the most important thing is to have fun.

*Article courtesy of Beth Phillips. 301-793-8068