Cleaning up the Loose Leash Walk (Safety Zone/Heel) & The Formal Sit
Sit means sit - the first time you say it. No exceptions.
Prerequisites: Leadership, Distraction-Proofing, Leash Manners
Test for Proper Safety Zone Placement BEFORE beginning the sit practice:
1. Warm the dog up with some quick heeling turns.
2. Come to a quick stop.
3. If the dog stops with you, you are ready to begin practicing the sit (see below).
4. If the dog keeps going, it has forged ahead. Do a right-about turn and keep working on the
heeling turns. If the dog only creeps forward, remember to use your left 90 degree turns!
5. Re-test at the beginning of each session until you're ready to begin the sit practice.
Heel & Sit - Days 1 - 3:
1. With the dog at the heel position, give the heel command and step forward with your LEFT foot. Walk forward only
about 3 to 5 steps and get ready to stop.
2. BEFORE stopping, slide your left hand down the leash, about 6 inches from the clip, and collect the slack into your
right hand as you come to a full stop, then:
3. Place the dog in the sit position by using pressure on the rear with the left and hand. Give the 'Sit' command as your
dog goes into the position.
4. Keep your left thumb pointed in toward your left leg, so that your body doesn't twist, making it impossible for the dog
to stay in the heel position without twisting also.
5. Even though you did the physical placement for the dog, praise warmly and move forward a few steps again. Repeat
steps 1 - 5 fifty times per day.
Heel & Sit - Days 4 & 5:
1. With the dog at the heel position, give the heel command and step forward with your LEFT foot. Walk forward only
about 3 to 5 steps and get ready to stop.
2. BEFORE stopping, slide your left hand down the leash, about 6 inches from the clip, and collect the slack into your
right hand as you come to a full stop, then:
3. ONLY when you are at a full stop, say the 'Sit' command and count in your mind to 2. If your dog sits, or is starting to
sit by the time you get to 2, PRAISE. If not, RAPIDLY place the dog in the sit position by using pressure on the rear with
the left and hand just as we did in days 1 - 3. DO NOT REPEAT THE SIT COMMAND.
4. Whether or not you had to do the physical placement for the dog, praise warmly and move forward a few steps again.
Repeat steps 1 - 5 fifty times per day.
Sit Correction - Day 6:
Prerequisites: Foundation, Safety Zone, Sit X 5 days
1. You may only move on to the sit correction after your five days of placing the dog in
the sit.
2. On the 6th day of practice, continue interchanging the heeling exercise and the sits. Slide down the leash before
you stop on each sit attempt but leave BOTH the left and right hands low on the leash - stay loose, you are not
'hanging' the dog into a sit position.
3. Give the verbal 'sit' command and count to 2. Do NOT 'place' the dog in the sit with your left hand. If the dog doesn’t
sit after the 2 count, correct immediately (short, sharp correction straight up). DO NOT REPEAT THE ‘SIT’ COMMAND.
You said it once, since the dog didn't respond, you're correcting it, no need to repeat the command.
4. When the dog sits, praise and repeat 25 to 50 times per day.