Goal

With front feet remaining on the paw pad, puppy will move from a stand to a sit, and a sit to a stand. Once the puppy is changing positions easily, the verbal cue “sit” and/or “stand” will be introduced.

Set Up

• A quiet location with limited distractions
• Puppy off leash
• A nonskid surface
• Several treats
• Paw pad

Procedure

1. Review standing on the paw pad, as done in previous weeks.
2. With the puppy in heel position standing on the paw pad, you will now lure him into the sit. Hold the kibble under your thumb with your palm flat. Slowly raise your hand up and slightly forward away from the puppy’s nose. The puppy should naturally follow the lure and bring his back feet forward into the sit position. Release the treat when the puppy sits. Because the lure is used, the marker word is not.
3. Once in the sit position, rapidly reward for 10 seconds. If puppy breaks the sit, stop the rewards.
4. After 10 seconds of rewarding in the sit position stop the rewards and wait for puppy to offer a stand. If the puppy does not stand, lure him into a stand.
5. Work on lengthening duration in the sit position by increasing the time between rewards.

Steps for Introducing Stand Hand Cue

1. The handler uses their right hand in a vertical position with fingers pointing to the left of the puppy, and kibble in their palm secured with their thumb.
2. Slowly move your hand 2 inches forward, away from the puppy’s nose, encouraging the puppy to stand. The puppy’s front feet must remain on the paw pad while the back feet move into the stand position.
3. Replace the lure with the verbal cue “stand” before giving the hand cue.