Dog owners know that March means mud! Every household has their own mud protocol. Some of us put towels down on top of our runner mats, to collect the muddy rivers that flow off our dogs. Others head to the pet store to try out a new mud mat or gadget. No matter what you do, there’s extra laundry and mopping in the spring…right?!
After your puppy sprints through your house leaving muddy footprints everywhere…
There’s not much we can do about the amount of muddy dog towels heading to the laundry, but what if I told you a secret to help you keep that mop in the closet?
Let’s get started!
There are four basic commands you can teach your dog right now to get them to stand still while they get their feet wiped. There’s also an ADORABLE trick that you can teach them, so that they can wipe their feet themselves!
Sit
Stay
Paw ( I could make this really cute, and use “Shake” instead of “Paw,” but I have a command for outside that I call “Shake” for getting Magic to shake off all the excess water, as she would getting out of a lake or after having a bath.)
Stand
I know, you may be overwhelmed and reaching for that mop bucket right about now. You’re thinking: “Four commands?? Plus teach my dog to shake the excess water from her fur AND wipe HER OWN feet?!” Thud.
Don’t worry! Focus on a rock-solid sit (where you ask your dog to sit and she stays sitting until released.) Add in the other commands at your own pace. Dog training is a marathon - not a sprint.
Young or old, any dog can learn to sit.
How to Teach Your Dog to Sit:
Most dogs and new puppies will naturally lift their chin and sit down when you stand in front of them and raise your hand up above their head.
Step 1: Stand in front of your dog, so you are facing them.
Step 2: Say their name or make a kissy noise, so that their attention is on you.
Make sure you have your dog’s attention, like this.
Not this…
Step 3: If you like, hold a treat in your hand for this step. When your dog is sniffing your hand, lift your hand up and toward them. This encourages their chin to tip up and their bum to lower into a sitting position. As soon as their bum hits the floor, feed them the treat and say “Good sit.”
You need to reward dogs within a SECOND, so timing is EVERYTHING.
Client Question: “How many sits should I ask my new puppy to do?”
Beyond Dog Training’s Reply: “The first day you teach sit, try it about five to seven times. After that, move on to something else. You could play, go for a walk, or work through the other commands that your dog already knows. ALWAYS end on a HIGH note.”
Keep training sessions short and positive. After all that mental stimulation, your puppy or dog may need a nice long nap.
PRO TIP: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS say “Good sit,” when your dog gives you a good sit. Your words, positivity, smile, and even petting your dog for a great sit become your dog’s reward once you phase out the food.
Phasing out the food rewards will help keep your dog at a healthy weight, minimize the risk for painful knee surgeries down the road, and ensure that your best friend will still listen to you on the days you forget to bring your treat pouch.
Once your dog knows how to sit on command, you can ask them to sit while you wipe off some of that mud!
For a VERY special tip on When to Teach Your New Rescue Dog to Sit, please scroll down and SUBSCRIBE. I will be sending a special tip for special rescue cases to the subscriber list this week!
Thanks for reading! Happy Spring, Dog Leaders!
Alyssa
Photos by: Janet Smith-Roberts (muddy legs,) Adli Wahid (six-moppers-mopping,) Sandra Tilkeridisová (dog sitting down,) Victor Grabarczyk (Jack Russel mix,) Ash Goldsbrough (husky with eyes closed,) NeONBRAND (white dog being petted,) Ayla Verschueren (dog with computer.)