Bring Your Dog Everywhere: How to Teach Them to Sit Still Anytime, Anywhere
“I’ll have a black and blue burger, and a plain patty on the side.”
“Do you want the patty wrapped up to bring home?”
“No, I’ll give it to my dog while I eat.”
“Oh! I didn’t even notice you had your dog here with you. How’d you get them to be so well behaved?”
Yes, little Miss Sage earned every dog owner’s coveted question: how did you get them to be so well behaved??
I was beaming.
It’s that feeling of freedom. You know, when you can actually bring your best friend out with you? Make memories together? All without worrying they’re gonna run off or make a scene when a stranger walks by?
That’s how I want every dog owner to feel.
So now, it’s time I let you in on the secret.
But fair warning… the trick sometimes seems a little TOO easy. Like, it’s so simple it couldn’t possibly work.
So here is video proof of Sage acting like a little angel. I’m giving the trick I’m about to share with you full credit for our success (and of course our general love and bond... but you and I both know that’s not enough to get pups to sit still!).
There it is, proof of Sage’s patience, self control, and genuine happiness to relax at my feet.
So… what’s the big secret?
Why was Sage so happy to hang out while I ate my burger?
Well…
I sat on the dog.
Weirdest name for a training exercise ever? Why yes, yes it is.
Does it work better than any other method out there? Most definitely.
And can you do it with your dog, even if they aren’t “well trained”? Absolutely!
In fact, I recommend you start Sit on the Dog as soon as possible.
Not because I want to be right or have any stake in this training method. But because it works. For almost everyone.
Who should try “Sit on the Dog”?
Owners with...
Dogs who are comfortable on a leash (4 months and up)
Dogs at any stage of their training journey (no, they don’t have to know “sit” or “stay” for this to work)
Dogs with low, medium, or high energy levels (even hyper pups can enjoy this exercise!)
When should you start “Sit on the Dog”?
As soon as your pup is comfortable on a leash!
We recommended waiting until they are at least 4 months old and have been on plenty of walks.
Because if they’re scared of the leash or gentle pressure on their neck, they’ll be too overwhelmed to understand what’s going on.
If you have an older pup, add this into your daily training routine asap! It’s never too late, and it will make all your other training goals easier to reach.
What are the benefits of “Sit on the Dog”?
Patience
As much as we’d like to pet our dogs 24/7, sometimes you need them to have a little patience. So, Sit on the Dog helps them learn to hang out by themselves for a minute when you’re busy.
Otherwise, they might learn that if they want attention, they should show signs of stress. And thinking they have to whine, bark, or do a little dance every time they want a back scratch? That’s a lot of unnecessary stress for one little dog!
Inner Calm
Pups don’t always know the difference between feeling excited and feeling overly tired. And overly tired pups? They can be a bit chaotic (and destructive, and messy…).
But after mastering Sit on the Dog, you can help your pup re-center and relax when they get too worked up. This is especially helpful when you’re out and about and don’t have a crate or their normal bed around!
Adventures!
Imagine all the places you can take your pup knowing that you can get them to lounge by your side whenever you need!
From restaurants, to beach days, to camping by the stream… this simple training exercise opens a lot of doors. And more doors means more lasting memories. Priceless!
Sounds too good to be true? Wait until you hear how you do it.
How to “Sit on the Dog”:
Setup: find a comfy chair, and place a dog bed next to it
It’s a pretty basic setup! The first one or two times I would practice in your home when there aren’t too many distractions. Once your dog starts getting the hang of it, you can practice in new spots!
And while you’re setting up, grab something to keep yourself occupied, like a book or a laptop.
Pro tips:
make sure your dog is well rested and has a chance to get their zoomies out before trying this exercise.
a potty break beforehand is always a good idea too!
once your dog has practiced a few times, try removing the bed. Sometimes you won’t have access to one, so it’s good to practice both ways.
Put your dog on a leash
Use a 6ft leash and a collar they can’t slip out of (or a slip lead). Otherwise your dog might learn how to become a master escape artist instead of relaxing! It also minimized their options so they are clear on what you want them to do.
Lay the leash across your chair and sit on it
So… you’re sitting on the leash, not your actual dog! Phew!
There should be just enough slack for your dog to comfortably lay by your side, but not so much that they can walk around or try climbing into your lap.
Let your dog be
Seriously, lay back and relax! No commands, no treats, no belly rubs. You do your thing, and your dog does theirs.
Now, your dog will be a little confused at first. They might whine, and that’s ok. It will all make sense to them soon, so stick with it! You made the area perfectly comfortable for them. You have to trust that they are intelligent and will figure it out soon in their own doggy way.
But if they start being destructive (like chewing on your chair), you can gently tell them no and go back to what you were doing.
Once they’re calm, start the timer for 30 minutes
Why 30 minutes? You want your dog to have time to settle. Otherwise, they won’t understand that when they’re on a leash by a chair, it means nap time.
And I don’t know about you, but a nap under 30 minutes just doesn’t count as a nap!
After the 30 minutes are up, take off the leash, and give them a pat on the back!
You did it! Your pup calmed themself and rested by your side. You got to do your own thing. And you're more bonded because of it!
See? It seems too easy! But I guarantee if you stick with it for at least 5 sessions, you’ll be amazed with the results.
(i.e. not too easy, just good dog psychology!)
Now, Sit on the Dog definitely takes patience from you too. Be prepared with an extra dose of will power the first time you try the exercise.
But your dog will get the picture very quickly. After one or two sessions, you’ll be surprised how quickly they settle by your feet.
And I want to emphasize, it’s a really natural, ethical way for your dog to learn.
There’s no physical force or stern voice required.
It’s like if you told your kid “you can either keep crying, or we can go read Magic Tree House together”.
Your dog can choose to chill with you or whine by your side.
And you reward them for relaxing by hanging out with them and giving them lots of love afterwards.
It’s a good life lesson, no?
Sometimes things won’t go your dog’s way, and that’s ok. You still love them and want to be with them. They’ll just have to wait a minute for belly rubs or fetch.
So yes, I absolutely recommend sitting on your dog right away. If not for the laugh when you tell people what you’re doing, then for the “how is your dog so well behaved?” comments you’re about to receive.
And when they do, I hope you stop and savor the moment.
You should be proud of you and your dog. Not everyone takes the time to train their pups the right way. So in my opinion, you deserve all the compliments in the world!
Sage and I will be rooting for you!