Stop Telling Your Dog to "SIT" per the Austin Dog Whisperer

AUSTIN, Texas - April 10, 2015 - PRLog -- Dog owners proudly share with us, the Austin Dog Whisperer, that they make their dog "Sit" before going through doors, being served meals or while chatting with neighbors out on the walk. We do not intend to be a killjoy, but ask that you please consider two factors before your human habit becomes overly ingrained.
First, fast forward to the elderly version of your dog in years to come. If he or she develops arthritis or joint pain, you will notice that standing too long or going into a Sit may start appearing difficult for your fur kid. When you say "Sit," you will see your dog who used to obey immediately hesitate, gazing at you as if to sadly ask, "Do you really want to hurt me?"
You will vow to stop making your senior "Sit."  But short of taping your mouth, you may find this habit hard to break, especially if you have added a second dog to the mix. Change becomes like pushing an elephant up a mountain, with resulting pain for your elderly dog.
Now zip back to your dog today.  With "Sit," your pup plops his tush down to the ground, but remains physically bristling with excitement with tail wagging floor broom sweeps and a tense, erect body. His focus is on his ready-set-go agenda for when you release him, not your game plan. He only affords you attention so that he can get past this "Sit" drill.
"Sit" is a man-made technical command which has little to do with the instinctual ways of canines. Dogs do not shout "Sit" amongst themselves (excessive barking reflects instability). They naturally communicate with one another using space, energy and body language.

"Dogs read our body language correctly 90% of the time. They are massive intelligence gatherers."  - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

American dog owners are taught to loudly and excitedly vocalize. This creates and feeds a dog's excitement. It is counter to draining over-excited energy and creating the calm, responsive obedience which fosters respect for humans as leaders. Per owner Lyndsey Adams, "Give me a dog who is looking to me for direction over one who is bouncing off the walls with living room laps any day!"

Verbal Commands Have Their Place
Verbal commands are useful and should be taught and practiced during humdrum times so that they "stick" during tricky, precarious moments.
Shouting your dog's name across a field should get his attention so you can signal either "Stop what you're doing" (hand stop sign) or "Come to my feet" (point to your feet).  Naming your dog's bed in the living room "Place" is useful for weaning his furniture habit. And teaching "Leave it" pays off in spades if your dog is ever faced with a snake.

Silence is Golden
Learn the rewarding ways of animal communication. Use your energy, eye contact and body language to silenty communicate to your dog "wait and become calm" instead of verbally commanding "sit."

Do you really care if your dog sits?  You want him to stop, stay put, and respectfully look to you for further direction with no hassles or battles. The physical position is not important, the state of mind and body are.

Dogs assess if you are worthy of respect as a leader by how you present yourself. Try silently presenting yourself as your dog's calm and stable leader who is worthy of not only his love and trust, but his respect as well. Practice conducting rich dialogues with your dog in the silent animal ways of nature by using space, energy and body language. You will be amazed, even thrilled, at the simplicity and effectiveness of this approach.
Bias towards always being calm, assertive, patient and repetitive. Do not become frustrated, tense, rushed or angry. Your dog will mirror the energy and stability you project.
When you are first getting started, take longer than you think is needed to give your dog processing time. Switching to a more instinctual approach is a mental transformation for both you and your dog. While refreshing, is still new and different. Give both of you the chance to get it right.
When replacing using Sit as a correction, make sure that your timing is instant. Dogs live in the moment and move forward quickly, their brains residing in one of the five canine drives - pack/social, food, sex, prey/predator and defense. Use only as much energy and intensity as is needed. Flooding the fish bowl with a river lacks integrity.
Get professional behaviorist help for any dog you feel you have to "tip toe around" to keep from "setting him off."  This is likely to be an unstable dominant dog who perceives that you are busting him from the CEO's suite to the mail room as you try to glide into your leadership role. Most dogs gladly clock off of the CEO job, but others can enter their defense drive if this change is not elegantly executed. Never ramrod your dog with force.

Assess Your Dog's Starting Point with an Exercise
Walk towards your dog when he's in an excited state and move into his space, using your arm and pointed finger to send him a few steps backwards. The desired response from him is to surrender space to you by backing up and then becoming still. Now you take a small step back to ease any pressure.
Continue to squarely stand facing your dog with strong posture. Look at him and silently project, "I am your fair leader. I mean you no harm but ask that you become calm and afford me respect."
Wait until you will see your dog visibly start relaxing. Let him continue draining energy until he reaches the point of exhaling a deep breath and, all by himself, going into a "Sit" or even "Down." Show him that this is what you desired by ending the exercise. Simply turn around and walk away. Do not shout "Good boy!" He reads your satisfied body energy and takes pleasure in this canine way of communicating. After a few repetitions, you can slowly pet him as a reward; do not give him fast hard rubs as these will again stoke his excitement.
Call a professional canine behaviorist for help if your dog responds with a challenge or warning.  You have most certainly observed other concerning behaviors if this is the case, and should not expect these to go away with time or any amount of your love.

If your dog tries to avoid you and convert the exercise to a fun game, ignore him. Next time block his avoidance by having him drag a leash attached to his collar, and you putting your foot on the leash handle.  As a young puppy, your dog should have learned that humans start and end all play. Sometimes this lesson has to come later in life.
If your dog flees with seeming fear, engage a professional canine behaviorist.  A dog who is living with fear, anxiety, insecurity, or distrust needs help in learning how to bring out his stable, more happy-go-lucky side as nature intended.

Contact the Austin Dog Whisperer for help.