Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How to Teach a Dog to Sit Pretty: 8 Vet-Approved Tips

Australian Shepherd dog sit pretty

From clever dogs at home begging for treats and scraps to polished performances in the dog show ring, the “sit pretty” trick looks impressive. This trick can be easy for some dogs to master, and others can take more convincing, but teaching your dog this showstopping trick is always fun.

This article will show you have to prepare for the trick with a step-by-step guide and all the tips and tricks you need for your dog to master sitting pretty.

divider single dog paw oct 2024

Preparation

What You’ll Need

We recommend a clicker since it is an effective tool for managing your dog’s expectations, but your dog needs to be conditioned to respond to the clicker first. Next, find out your dog’s motivator. Is it food, treats, or affection? Gather all the goodies and toys you need and ensure there are no distractions before you start.

clicker training a border collie dog
Image by: Dora Zett, Shutterstock

Before You Start

Before you start training, set up your command word. You need to differentiate between “sit” and “sit pretty.” Sit pretty is also known as “beg.”

Being consistent with your command word is critical, as changing the word halfway through will only cause confusion. Finally, conduct your training in an environment where you both feel relaxed; this could be at home or the park.

divider single dog paw oct 2024

The 8 Tips to Teach Your Dog to Sit Pretty

1. Sit!

Ask your dog to “sit” and have your clicker ready when giving the command. Have your motivator ready and face your dog, ensuring they’re interested. When your dog sits, click immediately and use a treat or motivator. This will let your dog know the clicker is involved and to listen out for it.

person training dog outdoors
Image by: Valeria Boltneva, Pexels

2. Raise a Treat

Hold a treat just above their nose when your dog is still sitting. Then, slowly raise it into the air above their nose, watching for your dog’s feet to start rising off the ground.

As you raise it further, your dog should sit on their back legs, lifting their paws off the ground and stretching to reach the treat.


3. Click and Treat

As soon as your dog’s paws come off the ground and are balancing on their hind legs, give the chosen command, click, and treat them with lots and lots of praise!

woman giving a treat to her dog outdoors
Image by: Yaroslav Shuraev, Pexels

4. Repeat

Repeat the third step, and continue clicking and treating each time the sit pretty command is given and your dog raises their paws off the ground


5. Command Only

Once step four has been repeated a few times, give the sit pretty command and wait to see if your dog performs the trick. If they do, don’t click, but offer lots of praise so they still know they’re doing the right thing.

Bird dog training in the field
Image by: John Tuesday, Unsplash

6. Practice

Practice a few more times but don’t treat or give the motivator every time. It’s important to let your dog know they’re doing the right thing, but make sure they anticipate a treat and do not automatically assume they get one every time they do the trick. This helps to keep it fresh and keep your dog interested.


7. Test

Now it’s time to test the command by mixing it with other tricks. Ask your dog to sit, lie down, etc. Then, use the sit pretty command in between and see if they can perform the trick from memory. If they do, reward them.

owner teaching dog a high five
Image by: Olena Yakobchuk, Shutterstock

8. Field Test

You can use the sit pretty command to check that your dog remembers it when you’re out and about. You can also use it randomly in the house, but give them a treat and loads of praise when they get it right. Congratulations, you’ve taught your dog to sit pretty!

divider single dog paw oct 2024

The 8 Tips to Help You and Your Dog Master the Sit Pretty Command

1. Change Up the Reward

If your dog is toy motivated, get them a new toy. If they’re treat-motivated, give them a different treat.

woman playing with her dalmatian dog with a ring toy
Image by: Stenko Vlad, Shutterstock

2. Be Consistent

Use the same tone and words for each session, and train them where they’re most comfortable.


3. Take Regular Breaks

Don’t overload your dog, as you can both become frustrated. Taking frequent breaks helps keep your dog’s attention, and some dogs learn slower than others.


4. Give Your Dog Support

Older dogs or dogs that aren’t as strong on their back legs may not be able to support themselves and hold themselves up for more than a second or two at first (particularly puppies or elderly dogs).

You can use your hands to support their front feet as they lift off the ground. They will gain strength in their back legs with repeated performances and eventually hold themselves up in the right position.

man training a dog
Image by: Pixabay

5. Remember to Be Positive

Dogs can feel your emotions and will think they’ve done something wrong if you get upset. Never react with anger since it won’t help and can even confuse or scare your dog, making them hesitant to perform more tricks.


6. Keep It Short

Keeping sessions short and sweet can help keep your dog focused and the training fun.


7. Shape the Behavior

Once the sit pretty command is learned, you can incorporate add-ons, such as lifting their paws higher and teaching them to “hold ’em up” above their head!

Woman holding dog's paw
Image by: Vlada Karpovich, Pixabay

8. Have Fun

Above all, have fun with your dog. Keep it light and enjoy bonding with your pup. Training can be an excellent opportunity to bond and build trust, after all. Make sure that if training stops being fun for whatever reason, stop, take a break, and revisit it later.

divider single dog paw oct 2024

How to Clicker Train Your Dog

Using a clicker can be very useful in training and keeping a dog’s attention. Treats, attention, affection, and toys can all be rewards when clicker training, but you first need to associate the clicker with the positive result before using it in training. This can be done surprisingly quickly and only requires a few steps.

  • Get your treats or positive motivators ready, and ensure you and your dog are in a quiet place with no distractions.
  • Get your dog’s attention, show them the clicker, and immediately give them a treat. Again, timing is important here as your dog will associate the clicking noise with the positive action of the treat following.
  • Do this a few more times, then ask your dog to perform a trick they know. For example, ask them to sit, then use the clicker to click and reward.
  • Test the clicker response in several locations.

divider single dog paw oct 2024

Final Thoughts

Sitting pretty is one of the oldest tricks in the book, and it can increase the bond between dog and owner and improve strength and balance. Plus, it looks very impressive incorporated into a routine or expanded upon, such as dramatic “play dead” tricks. Sit pretty is worth teaching, but make sure you have fun doing it!

Related Read:


Featured Image Credit: Nynke van Holten, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Kashon (Cairn & Bichon Frise Mix) Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care & More

The Kashon (commonly referred to as the Bairn), is a deliberate crossbreed between the Cairn and the Bichon Frise dog breed to produce...

Can Dogs With Pancreatitis Eat Carrots? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

If your dog has just spent the last few days in intensive care due to pancreatitis and you’re worried about what you should...

Is There Beer for Dogs? Vet-Verified Types, Info & FAQ

When we go to restaurants, we’re usually given multiple drink options, while dogs are typically served water. However, many dog-friendly bars and restaurants...

Cavalon Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care & More

The Cavalon dog breed combines the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Papillon. The resulting mixed-breed dog is small but lively. It does...

More related

Labrador Retrievers for Sale in Ohio: 2025 Breeders List

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dogs in the United States and many other countries, too. If you live in Ohio,...

Can Police Dogs Smell Nicotine? Vet-Verified Facts & Training Info

While cigarette sales have been declining steadily for decades, vape technology is seemingly replacing one issue with another. Promising fewer health risks and...

Prey Drive in Dogs: Vet-Verified Signs & How to Help

Even though most owners know it’s there, a dog’s prey drive can still surprise and overwhelm them. Maybe your dog yanks on the...

10 Best Dog Foods for Tear Stains in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

Your dog could have tear stains for many reasons, including food intolerances. According to the American Kennel Club, some dogs see a reduction...

Keep reading

Can Dogs Eat Brisket? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Risks

Brisket is a cut of beef from a cow’s lower breast muscles. The lower breast is a well-worked area of the body, so the meat cooks best in a slow cooker combined with seasoning and vegetables. The result is a...

Can Dogs Eat_brisket

Can Dogs Eat Brown Sugar? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Considerations

Many people have a seemingly insatiable sweet tooth. However a taste for sugar may have some benefits, as it supplies energy and is quickly metabolized by the human body with a decent return. Dogs aren’t different from people in our...

Dogster-Can-Dogs-Eat-Brown Sugar

Can Dogs Eat Mint? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

What do you think of when you think of mint? Fresh breath, spruced-up salads, smoothies, and mojitos. But have you ever wondered if your dog can have mint? Smelly dog breath is a common complaint, so is it okay to...

can dogs eat mint

Wufers Homemade Gourmet Dog Cookies Review 2025: An Expert’s Breakdown

Review Summary Wufers bakes and delivers homemade gourmet cookies straight to your house. This small business is based in London, Ontario and sources its ingredients from other local businesses. Wufers creates beautiful themed dog cookie boxes for birthdays, holidays, and...

DOG_SAPR_Wuferz Dog Cookies

8 Amazing Benefits of Bone Broth for Dogs & Why We Love It (Vet Approved)

We want our pups to be as healthy as possible, so we make sure they eat nutritious dog food and exercise daily. But is there more we can do to ensure our dogs’ health and well-being? There is! One great...

bone broth bouillon in stainless steel pot

Can You Judge Dog Food Solely by Its First Ingredient? Facts & FAQ

Judging dog food can be overwhelming. There is a lot that you need to keep in mind when checking out dog food. You may be tempted to shorten the process by only looking at the first ingredient. While you can...

Portrait of woman with small dog choosing preserves in pet shop

Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & Info

Our dogs can eat all sorts of things we can. After all, they are omnivores just like us! However, that doesn’t mean everything we stuff in our gullet belongs in our dog’s belly—or ours, if we’re being honest. So, how...

Why Does My Dog Eat My Hair? 10 Possible Reasons (Vet-Reviewed)

Ever caught your canine companion munching on your hair and wondered why? It’s not a gourmet meal, after all. This behavior, while strange to us, is anecdotally quite common and can be attributed to various causes. From their inherent grooming...

woman carrying smiling dog