Does your dog confuse "sit" and "down" commands?

Have you ever noticed that when you ask your dog to sit, they go straight into a down instead?

You may have accidentally created a chained behavior—rewarding your dog after sit → down instead of treating them as separate commands.

It makes sense—your dog is smart and eager to earn that reward, so they skip ahead to what they think you want. But don’t worry—you can fix this with some simple adjustments.

Here’s how to retrain clarity and isolate sit and down as distinct commands:

Key Training Steps

Establish a Marker System

Clear markers help your dog understand exactly what you’re reinforcing.

• “Good” → Hold the position. Reward is coming to your dog.

• “Yes” → Your dog did it correctly and is free to move to collect the reward. Pair this with a quick, happy step backward to invite them out of position—no leash pressure needed.

Refocus on the Sit

Give your sit cue. The moment your dog’s bum hits the ground, mark with “Yes” and reward. Timing is everything—catch your dog before they slide into a down.

Teach the Down from a Stand

Instead of pairing down with sit, teach it separately. Use a food lure and, if needed, slight leash guidance to help your dog understand what you want.

Isolate Each Command

Practice sit and down separately, mixing them up in your training sessions. This prevents your dog from anticipating or “auto-piloting” one behavior into the other.

Build Duration Slowly

Start adding duration by using multiple “Good” markers before a final “Yes.” Example: 3 “Goods” while your dog holds the position, then release with “Yes.”

Always Follow Through

No matter which command you give, hold your dog accountable to finish it. Consistency builds clarity, and clarity builds confidence.

By isolating sit and down, you’ll eliminate confusion, strengthen communication, and set your dog up for success. With consistency and the right timing, your dog will master each command—and you’ll avoid those sneaky shortcuts they love to invent.

Ready to learn these essential skills and more? Contact Beyond Behavior K9 Training to discuss your training needs!