"sit" command - how do they sit?

[Shamu]

I wonder, is it only my girl, or all danes are so slow to sit down? She knows and does 'sit' command - but...
she backs-up. If I'm not holding her, she ends up sitting a few feet behind me. If I'm holding her by leash or collar, she kind of moves her back feet a bit forward while sitting down, but still backs up her front a bit when she is almost sitting.

and she doesn't just puts her butt down - she keeps stepping with her back feet while sitting, and moves her but down SO SLOW...

We started teaching her 'sit' when she was about 8 month old already, and I was happy just to get her to sit at all, but now I want her to sit faster, and without backing up

any suggestions? Or it's just dane?

[Loki Love]

Loki does the same thing. I've just assumed it's a Dane thing myself. I'll be interested to see what others have to say about it!

[LoMax]

Yep, Murray does the same thing. He would rather do a down anyday. It totally cracks people up that it takes him minutes to throw it in reverse and get a good solid sit.

[shawnzy]

Giovanni does the same thing but will sit immediately if he wants something... I was told to back the up in a corner and tell them to sit and keep working with them. They couldn't back up anymore so they ended up sitting faster.

[ouesi]

A comparative view - for scientific purposes Bates the boxer mix vs. Breez the full Dane. (Don't mind the princess - she's in her own little world LOL)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isi_E_4jVm0

[marinewife05]

I was told by my last trainer to have Thor stand in front of a wall. That way he can't back up and has no choice but to sit.

[Floyd's mom]

It's a Dane thing mine do it also (even the 5mo old pup). Come to think of it I have never seen a dane that didn't back up a block or two before they sit.

[Shamu]

ok, seems like she is not the only one But I hope to get her to sit faster - ouesi's dane does it faster, so that gives me some hopes!

This is Shamu's 'sit': She doesn't back-up much, but it takes her FOREVER to sit..
She backs up mostly when she is next to me, but not in front of me - of course, if she backs up when she is in front of me, it increases the distance between her and the 'cookie'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQwxAd-dzwY

[Meatos]

Scarlett is slow to sit but lately she has been faster and faster and doesn't back up as much. I don't ask her to sit very often, though, but when I do, she'll usually go straight into a down.

[Floyd's mom]

ok, seems like she is not the only one But I hope to get her to sit faster - ouesi's dane does it faster, so that gives me some hopes!

This is Shamu's 'sit': She doesn't back-up much, but it takes her FOREVER to sit..
She backs up mostly when she is next to me, but not in front of me - of course, if she backs up when she is in front of me, it increases the distance between her and the 'cookie'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQwxAd-dzwY

I don't think that was to bad, looked pretty good to me..

[jeann1230]

Hi Shamu,

in the video you treated her way to fast she barely sat. Also you give her too much room to do it wrong. She has free room to position her butt anywhere she likes to. If you want to teach sit correctly, here is what you do:

1. Walk with her in a heel position. The leash in the right hand in front of you. The left hand holds the treat.

2. Hold the treat in your closed hand. Let her sniff your hand, so her nose is "glued" to your hand.

3. Stop, give the command sit, and pull the hand up and a bit backwards. above her head. You'll see she will sit nice and close and fast by your side. With her head following the treat.

4. Wait about 20 to 30 seconds while she holds the sit, then treat her. Repeat this very often. And later you can teach her to sit everywhere you designate her to sit. But it is important to first give them a position where to sit, how fast, and how (you want her feet nicely under her, not sprawled out on her butt, so she can get up nicely and fluently).

If my husband is later willing to tape me, I make you a short video.

[Shamu]

thank you!

in the video you treated her way to fast she barely sat.

I know; I released her too early. Usually she sits until released - but my "video girl" had other plans and was rushing me

(you want her feet nicely under her, not sprawled out on her butt, so she can get up nicely and fluently).

That the part I can never get from her. She never sits with her feet under her - they're always to the side. No matter if she sits on command, or just sitting. BTW, I barely see her sitting - she either stands, or lays down.

If my husband is later willing to tape me, I make you a short video.

Please do! Thank you!

[crdane]

Carlie sits pretty fast, but she does back up sometimes. What I find comical is that her butt does not actually touch the ground. She is skinny, and her legs are bent and on the ground, but her butt stays about 2 inches off of the ground. Her legs are under her. I don't know if it is a dane thing, or what, but it is funny. She stays like this as long as I make her, so it is not because she is trying to get up.

[tarheelchick]

This is interesting to me too! Jeanette, please post a video of your example, I'd love to see it. Sam will sit as soon as asked, but she thinks she has to be FACING me to do it, so she'll often move and shift her body so that she can see me to sit.......she does it pretty fast, but still . I'm sure its because I did the initial training incorrectly. Please help me correct this.

[jeann1230]

I'll try to get a video tomorrow, if I do not have to work too long. If I can't get tomorrow I'll do it for you Saturday