Stand from Sit
Positions · 9 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to stand from a sit for a hand signal and the verbal cue 'Stand'. A cued stand earns its keep in grooming and handling: ask for it to towel off muddy paws, clip on a harness or coat, brush a belly, or hold still for a vet. Reward Your Dog for standing in place rather than creeping forward, feeding right where their feet are.
Train Sit from Stand first. You will need soft treats for luring.
Training steps
Follow lure 1 inch forward
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Hold a treat in front of Your Dog's nose and slowly pull it 1 inch away, prompting them to stretch forward to follow. As soon as they do, give them the treat. Keep the lure level with their nose and pull straight forward, not down, so they think about rising rather than lying down.
Success: Your Dog leans forward to follow the lure.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Follow lure 3 inches forward
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Hold a treat in front of Your Dog's nose and slowly pull it 3 inches away, prompting them to stretch farther to follow. As soon as they do, give them the treat. Keep the lure level with their nose or just above it and draw it straight forward. If Your Dog lies down, the lure has dropped too low.
Success: Your Dog leans farther forward to follow the lure.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure from sit into stand
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Hold a treat in front of Your Dog's nose and slowly pull it away, prompting them to stand up. As soon as they do, give them the treat.
Success: Your Dog stands.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Bury the lure
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Bury the lure in your prompting hand by holding the treat against your palm with your thumb. Lure Your Dog to stand, then reward them with a treat from your other hand or treat pouch. Do not give them the hidden treat.
Success: Your Dog stands.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Large hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Prompt Your Dog into a stand using the same luring motion as before, palm facing them, but with no treat in your hand. Wait to see if they stand. As soon as they do, give them a treat from your other hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog stands.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Medium hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Prompt Your Dog into a stand by making a medium-sized hand signal, then wait to see if they stand. As soon as they do, give them a treat from your other hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog stands.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Small hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Prompt Your Dog into a stand using a smaller hand signal: show them the palm of your hand with fingers pointing down, held at your side. Wait to see if they stand. As soon as they do, give them a treat from your other hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog stands.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Say the verbal cue 'Stand', pause for 1 second, then prompt Your Dog into a stand with a small hand signal if needed. As soon as Your Dog stands, give them a treat from your other hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog stands for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is sitting.
Say the verbal cue 'Stand' and wait to see if Your Dog stands. Do not use the hand signal. If Your Dog stands, give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog stands for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Nice work! Your Dog can now stand up from a sit for a small hand signal and for the word 'Stand' alone.
To make the stand rock solid, proof it: restart the plan on the proof steps, or play the goal games you just earned, in new places and around distractions.
Ready for more? Stand from Down rounds out the set, Stand Stay turns this into a steady hold for grooming, and it pairs perfectly with the Harness, Coat, and Nail Trimming plans.