Recently, I encountered some goofy dog training “wisdom” that said, basically, if your dog won’t hold a position you ask of him, he’s being stubborn or obstinate. Hm. What if – and, I know, it’s a crazy idea – your dog won’t hold a position because it’s uncomfortable?
Cooper does not sit. Well, he does. If you cue him to sit, he sits. But only for a second. Then he immediately pops back up or, if he knows we’re in “training” mode, he chooses a down instead. But look at this weirdo splay of his back legs:
Awkward, right?
When he takes a “down” stance, he nearly always rolls his hips to the side rather than stay on his belly – the exact opposite of Emmett.
And if he is down on his belly? His legs can’t tuck under:
So, what’s my point?
This is the question that came up in the research: Why won’t my dog sit?
Here’s another: How can I get my dog to sit?
First: Make sure your dog really, truly, honestly knows the cue. You might think you taught it well, but your dog might not fully understand what’s expected of him. Or, you taught it super well in the quiet living room, but now you’re at the park and he seems to have no clue what you’re saying. Start by going back to basics. See if you can do a low-key training session with the behavior in a few areas–your living room, the backyard, then the park–with a ton of treats. If he really does seem to know it, great!
Second: Perhaps if you’re struggling to get your dog to perform a certain behavior, it might be worthwhile to step back and check out his physiology. I don’t know if there’s anything wrong with Cooper’s back legs, but they certainly don’t look like they’re comfortable when he’s sitting! Sit has always been our default training behavior, and it still is for the Big Boys, but for Cooper we’re using down as his default to compensate for this wonkiness.
Your dog is neither stubborn nor obstinate if he won’t sit. Most likely it’s a training issue or a physical issue. With Coop, we’ve just given up sit almost entirely. Now, he uses “down” comfortably as his holding behavior, and he’s even more comfortable when he’s able to roll over onto his side.
Have you ever observed anything like this – a physiological challenge that may prevent your pup from performing a certain behavior? How have you trained to compensate for that?
deb long says
09•17•14 at 9:35 amGussie is the very same way, he sits differently from our other two pugs. We first noticed how he sat and laid down differently at puppy class. The vet has never said anything about it being anything to worry about …….we will double check the next time he goes back. We just think it is one more thing that makes him so cute.
Stella Rose’s Momma
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:18 amI bet it does make him extra cute!! I did learn that the legs-kicked-out sit can mean an ACL problem, so it’s worth asking just to be safe. I’m confident that isn’t Coop’s problem, but I’m going to ask my vet, too!
Miranda says
09•17•14 at 11:09 amMoby’s sit is SPOT ON and he can hold it for EVER! But…put him in a down and he’s like “But WHY??” He’ll stay there for a second, with a very uncomfortable look on his face and then go back to sit. It was good enough to pass obedience class, so it’s good enough for me! Kudos to you for working on what is comfortable for Cooper!
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:19 amHah! That’s perfect, Miranda! Pass obedience class… then let him do what’s comfortable!
Ann says
09•17•14 at 11:13 amI think Coop should sit however he is comfortable. Scout hates to sit on a hard surface. She will do it but she is very reluctant and won’t hold it. She does much better on a rug or on grass. Now I don’t think there is anything wrong with her body, I think she is just uncomfortable on a hard surface. And I say to myself, why should she be made to sit in a way that is uncomfortable to her if it is at all possible for me to move a few feet onto the grass or a rug. If there is a need for her to sit for a prolonged time, why shouldn’t she be comfortable? (Of course this is secondary to our need to address her jumping when someone doesn’t give her 100% of their attention).
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:20 amHaha! Well, she DESERVES 100% of attention. She’s just reminding someone of that fact! 🙂
Amanda says
09•17•14 at 11:16 amDaisy INSISTS on a puppy sit with her legs splayed out as far as they can go. It’s like that scene in Flashdance right before the water hits. She’s constantly displaying her wares, and it’s earned the name “the stripper sit” since she’s hardly a puppy anymore. She CAN sit straight (and will do it if she’s particularly interested) but I have a feeling the other way is just more comfortable, if not particularly ladylike. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, if you ask me.
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:20 amHAHAHAH!!! The stripper sit!!! So, so funny, Amanda!
Mary Beth says
09•17•14 at 11:37 amMy Great Dane Lenny always backed up like ten feet to sit down. Then almost always layed down instead. Turns out he has knee problems! So now we just have him lay down. He’s on meds and in therapy and doing much better, but you are so right, you never know why they won’t do something! Great post!
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:21 amThank you for sharing your experience, Mary Beth!! Our dogs can’t tell us what hurts, so it’s so important to pay attention to cues like that! BTW, I just poked around your blog – LOVE!!!
Kimberly Gauthier says
09•17•14 at 1:39 pmThis is such a great point. Whenever our dogs won’t sit or pop back up quickly, I check to make sure everything is okay. Sydney had an injury that makes sits uncomfortable at times and when I was a kid, I had a dog who had a bad injury that we discovered when he couldn’t hold a sit.
Our dogs are always communicating with us.
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:23 amYES! Or, at least, they’re always TRYING to communicate with us! The trick is for us to actually listen! How wonderful of you to work around dear Sydney’s injury.
Crystal Tysz says
09•17•14 at 1:54 pmBoth my dogs that have had ACl surgery sit funny. One sits with her legs to the side, the other splayed out. Both take a very long time to sit as it seems uncomfortable. So I generally have them do something else like target or spin. I hate to make them hurt just to have them do a cue.
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:24 amYES! I’m with you, Crystal! I’ve switched Coop’s default to a down instead because I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. Someone else mentioned funny sits with ACL. Good for you for working around their injuries!
Sean Clark says
09•17•14 at 4:33 pmIt is very scary how much my oldest dog Tucker and cooper look alike. And Tucker does a weird, awkward sit too, but only on slippery surfaces like tile and wood. Cooper is too cute!! you have to check out our pics on our instagram or our website and see our twins!! Love reading your stuff by the way, we are just launching our pet inspired blog and love interacting with other pet bloggers!
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:25 amHey, Sean! I poked around your website, and I didn’t see a place to follow you on Instagram! Let me know your handle, and I’d love to check out your account – and handsome Tucker, of course!
Sean Clark says
09•18•14 at 10:04 amyes our site structure is a work in progress unfortunately, just last night we added all of social media profile links to the footer!! but here are our links:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/tandecollarshop
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Tandecollarshop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TandECollarShop
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 10:05 amIt’s always a work in progress, that’s for sure! 🙂
slimdoggy says
09•17•14 at 5:54 pmAbsolutely – in my post last week on Spondylosis Deformans (fused spine) I noted our dog Becca NEVER sat…she just could – eh was either standing or laying down. And she was never able to curl up either…good point to make about physiological issues.
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:26 amYES! I read that, and it’s such a true observation. I get frustrated when a trainer suggests a lack of response is stubbornness before making sure there isn’t an underlying physical issue. Our poor dogs can’t tell us, so it’s up to our observational skills!
Murphy & Stanley says
09•17•14 at 6:52 pmSometimes the floor is too slippery for us!
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:27 amHA! Lucas has that too! His big old paws slooooowwwwlllly slip out from under him when he sits on a slippery floor. So funny!
Leslie says
09•17•14 at 8:58 pmExcellent point! Bella has always defaulted to down instead of sit. That is, of course, until we put her on medication that addresses potential neurological pain…
In the 6 years we’ve had her, the overwhelming lesson she has taught me is to not assume anything. Vet visit after vet visit revealed nothing but that didn’t mean there wasn’t pain. It just meant that she wasn’t going to tell anyone her secrets.
If only these little creatures could talk, we’d all be so much better off. Until then, I guess, we just have to learn to listen better.
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:28 amYES!! Sometimes it’s hard to remember that their physical cues (or lack of cues) are the only way they can tell us what’s up. Bella and Cooper sort of remind me of each other – they’re both a whole bunch of puzzle pieces that you and I are striving to put together!
Jackie Bouchard says
09•17•14 at 11:03 pmGood point! Rita sits fine – except she’s not crazy about it on hardwood floors. I can tell she doesn’t like not having good traction. She’s also funny when you go from Sit to Down while she’s on the hardwood. She’ll just push her butt out so she slides slowly backwards along the floor until she’s down. So cute. Should try to get a vid of it!
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:28 amPlease do get a video, Jackie!! That would be so cute! 🙂
Natasha says
09•18•14 at 8:07 amIn the class I assist with, if any dog seems reluctant to sit, the trainer immediately offers a towel. Often the owners have carpeting at home.
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 9:30 amThat’s a good strategy. I think the slipper-floor thing throws off a lot of dogs! It has to be disconcerting to have your feet slide out from under you!
Debra says
09•18•14 at 9:50 amRay’s default is a “down” as well and he also rolls to the side. You’ll probably notice that in most pictures of the two boys together, Ray is lying in the background while Juli sits in front.
I think with his weaker hind legs, sit is a bit harder for Ray although I know he can and will do it, I don’t force the issue.
Also, it just slays me that “common wisdom” always believes it is a behavioral issue if a dog can’t or won’t do something. Gheesh!
Maggie says
09•18•14 at 10:08 amThis point: “although I know he can and will do it, I don’t force the issue.” YEP! I feel like it’s my job to figure out what he’s trying to “say” to me, and defaulting to a behavioral issue – as you point out – is most definitely not always the case! Cooper sure does have some behavioral issues, but his reluctance to sit isn’t one of them! Thanks for making that point!
John Roboni says
09•23•14 at 8:33 pmWe had a sideways sitting dog that sat to the side so much it looked like he would fall over if you tapped him:) Come to find out he had hip dysplasia from birth. Didn’t ever bother him until old age when he started to only lay on one side. Sounds like we all have special dogs:)
Beni says
04•25•18 at 10:10 pmMy Oreo sits the same way? Did you find out if anything is wrong with it’s hind legs? I am thinking of asking doctor next time!
I can send you a picture if you like to see it?