Sit is the most basic dog command there is and it’s probably one of the first things your Jack Russell will learn besides its name. It’s one of the most useful commands and it’s also extremely easy to teach, making it an essential part of Jack Russell training. It comes in handy for preventing a lot of problem behaviors common to Jack Russells, like jumping up at visitors and suddenly bolting for no apparent reason. These are simple, step-by-step instructions for teaching a Jack Russell to sit.

1. Find a treat your dog likes. This may be a food treat, or it may be a toy or game. If you plan on using a toy as a reward, be aware that this will probably increase the amount of time you spend training, as it takes longer to play a game than quickly gobble a bit of dog biscuit. But you should use whatever reward your dog responds to most. I find that little pieces of cut-up sausage or grated cheese are good treats for Jack Russells. Don’t overdo it though – too many treats may make your dog overweight, and too much cheese can cause constipation. The idea is to give a very small amount of a food that your dog values highly.

2. Find a quiet place without any distractions for starters. Have several pieces of the treat ready to go. Take a small piece of the treat (or a toy, if that’s what you’re using), and hold it in front of your JRT to get his attention. Hold it in front of his nose – at this point he may start to lick at your fingers. That’s fine, but don’t give him the treat just yet.

3. Slowly draw the treat up and backwards. You should be aiming to move it along an imaginary line from the tip of your dog’s nose to the middle of the forehead. (If your JRT happens to have a white streak down the middle of his head, draw the food along that line.) Now, as you do this, the dog will naturally start to move backwards, his back legs will bend as his head tilts up, and he will sit. As this point, mark the action immediately by saying “Good dog,” or something similar of your choice, and give the treat immediately.

4. Do not give the treat if the dog’s front paws come up off the ground. Sometimes Jack Russells get so excited that the paw at the treat and try to climb up your hand. In this case, hold the treat lower to the ground. Only give the treat when the dog’s front paws are on the ground and his bottom is touching the floor. Use your other hand to gently press him down if needed, but never use force, especially with a puppy. Just gently guide him to the correct position, praise, and reward.

5. After the dog is used to the action and can sit regularly when a treat is offered, start introducing the verbal “Sit” command. The command needs to be given immediately before the action to create an association, so say “Sit” just as you bring the treat up to your dog’s nose.

6. When the dog fully understands the verbal command and can sit consistently, stop rewarding every Sit and only reward randomly. Occasionally throw in an extra big treat to make your dog work harder.

7. If the dog is still too hyper to train properly, try taking it for a walk before training.

8. If the dog isn’t interested in the treat, try training when he’s hungrier, or experiment with new treats and toys until you find something that catches his attention.

Follow these tips and you should find Jack Russell training a whole lot easier from now on.