How to Teach Your Dog to Sit and Stay (Without Losing Your Mind)

Here’s a fun little stat that blew me away — dogs can learn a new command in as few as 5 to 15 repetitions if you do it right. Sounds easy, right? Yeah, that’s what I thought too before my golden retriever, Biscuit, spent an entire afternoon staring at me like I was speaking Martian while I tried to teach him to sit and stay.

Look, teaching your dog basic obedience commands isn’t just a party trick. It’s genuinely about safety, bonding, and making everyday life with your pup way less chaotic. Whether you’re dealing with a hyperactive puppy or a stubborn older dog, mastering sit and stay is the foundation of everything else in dog training.

Why “Sit” and “Stay” Are the Holy Grail of Dog Commands

Before we dive into the how, let’s talk about the why. Sit and stay are basically the building blocks of all canine obedience training. Once your dog nails these two, everything else — from loose leash walking to recall — gets so much easier.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t appreciate this at first. I jumped straight into trying to teach Biscuit to shake and roll over because, well, it seemed more fun. Big mistake. Without a solid sit-stay foundation, the fancier tricks were a total disaster. The American Kennel Club recommends starting with sit as the very first command for a reason — it creates impulse control, which is basically the whole game.

Step One: Teaching Your Dog to Sit

Alright, let’s get into it. You’ll need some high-value treats — I’m talking small, smelly, irresistible stuff. Cheese cubes worked like magic for Biscuit, but every dog’s got their own currency.

• Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose and slowly move it upward over their head.
• As their head follows the treat up, their butt will naturally lower to the ground.
• The second that butt touches the floor, say “sit,” give the treat, and shower them with praise.

Now here’s where I messed up initially. I was saying “sit” before Biscuit actually did anything, which just confused the poor guy. You want to mark the behavior as it happens, not before. Timing is everything with positive reinforcement training.

Repeat this about 10-15 times per session, and keep sessions short — like 5 to 10 minutes max. Dogs have the attention span of a toddler in a candy store, so don’t overdo it. Trust me, I learned this the hard way when Biscuit literally walked away from me mid-session to chew on a sock.

Step Two: Adding the Stay Command

Once your dog is sitting like a champ, it’s time for the stay. This one takes a bit more patience, and honestly, it tested mine more than I’d like to admit.

• Ask your dog to sit.
• Hold your palm out in front of you (like a stop signal) and say “stay.”
• Take one small step backward. If they hold position even for a second, reward immediately.
• Gradually increase the distance and duration over multiple sessions.

The key here is to not rush it. I remember getting overconfident after Biscuit held a stay for about three seconds, so I backed up like six feet. He bolted straight at me, knocked the treats out of my hand, and it was basically a free-for-all after that. The Humane Society suggests increasing difficulty in tiny increments, and they ain’t wrong.

Common Mistakes That’ll Set You Back

One thing that really tripped me up was inconsistency. Some days I’d use “stay,” other days I’d say “wait” — and my wife was using completely different words altogether. Pick one command word and make sure everyone in the household sticks with it.

Also, never punish your dog for getting it wrong. Negative reinforcement doesn’t work and it just damages the trust between you two. If your dog breaks the stay, just calmly reset and try again. No drama needed.

Your Dog’s Got This — And So Do You

Teaching your dog to sit and stay isn’t rocket science, but it does require consistency, patience, and a whole lotta treats. Every dog learns at their own pace, so don’t compare your pup to anyone else’s. Always keep training sessions positive and end on a win, even if it’s a small one.

If you found this helpful, make sure to check out more training tips and pet care guides over on Aerobic Atlas — we’ve got tons of stuff to help you and your furry best friend live your best lives together!