Training your dog to sit can help you keep your Bichon Frise under control when she is excited or anxious.
Start training early and teach your dog to obey you and sit, whether at home or out in public.
Training a puppy takes time, patience and commitment, but it also acts as a great opportunity to build your relationship with your Bichon into something both loving and respectful.
“Sit” is the primary command for any Bichon Frise puppy. There are many reasons for this, but safety ranks at the top of the list.
A Bichon startles and becomes distracted as easily as any other young dog, which can put them in harm’s way.
By training a dog to sit on command, you can protect and regulate your dog’s actions in difficult situations, even from a distance.
Bichon Frise puppies like to please you.
Puppy Obedience Training
Training your dog to sit is a fundamental of Bichon obedience training.
Bichon Frises respond best to simple commands and positive reinforcement. This breed is very anxious to please the pack leader (That’s you!), but you must keep training consistent.
Choose a specific command for "sit" and a reward--and use both regularly. If you’re uncertain about how to go about this, Dove Cresswell’s dog training lessons can help. Dove trains dogs professionally, in Hollywood, and she shares her tricks for getting dogs trained quickly, including how she trains different breeds, like Bichons.
Some trainers suggest combining hand signals with verbal cues. Your Bichon needs to understand the concept of "sit" before this combination works, however.
Once he associates the word with the actual act of sitting, you can add a hand signal as reinforcement (such as two fingers on one hand moving from parallel to the ground, down to the ground).
Your Bichon Frise has tons of energy, so go to a quiet space for training a puppy, one where you can minimize distractions. Have some treats ready.
Use your command while pushing down on the pup’s bottom gently, but firmly. If she sits, reward her immediately and praise her lavishly.
Repeat this process two more times, and then give your dog a break. Set aside a few minutes each day for your Bichon puppy to practice learning how to sit on command.
If you have a family, make sure all members use the same commands or signals. Otherwise you will confuse your dog.
Additionally it may be best to avoid leaning any other “tricks” while training your dog to sit. Let your Bichon master one command at a time, then move on to commands like “stay” or “heel”.
A bichon Frise puppy responds very well to positive reinforcement.
If you remain consistent with praise and rewards it shouldn’t be long before obeying the “sit” command becomes second nature to your dog.
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.