Training to sit closer?

[ladyfreckles]

This may sound weird, but when I try to get Viking to sit in front of me, facing me, he always sits a foot or two away. I'm trying to train him to sit closer to me and right in front of my feet so he can look up at me. I've tried luring him closer with treats but he just stares at me like "Yo I'm a dog I'm sitting can I have that treat now". I am trying to think of what I can do to help him to understand what I want. What I want when I ask him to sits in front of me is for him to walk right up and sit and look up at me.

Does anyone have any tips?

[GatorDog]

Have you tried having him sit against a barrrier or something? Like, have him sit against a wall while you are closer to him. That way he can't back up. Treat him like crazy when he does it and he'll start to feel more comfortable sitting closer to you.

[FG167]

I had a dog that had issues with personal space - namely, being in mine. I taught him a nice close front by teaching him the perch and then putting the perch right in front of me and then working the recall. Worked pretty well.

[TechieDog]

Its easy. When you reward the dog, put the food in your hands in front of you, right above your belly, right on your body. The dog will get used to coming right up to you to get the reward. Take a step back as he/she comes in to you and then stop and reward at your body.

[Clyde]

The perch is good for dogs with personal space issues. So if your dog is going to be uncomfortable pushing into you I would go with the perch.

Another way is to start getting your dog to push into your hands right in front of your stomach. He should basically eat out of your hands. If he is not pushing in he doesn't get the food you can also back up slowly as he is pushing in to encourage him. Don't ask for anything yet but once he is pushing in good move your hands a little higher so he has to sit. For my guys I teach this as "front" a totally separate word I never ask them to sit. Once he gets the sit and push in I will down the dog at my feet and ask for "front" with my hands in front of my stomach (or nose height of your dog if there head is up and looking at you) encouraging him to pop up and into me in a sit position you can still lure him into the sit if needed after the pop up but most dogs go right into the close sit. I mark anything not straight right from the beginning with a "nope" just no reward and start again. I find when their neck is extended along your body and they are staring at you they are really good about being straight. Its usually in those fist pop ups from the down that I iron out the straightness.
This is where I get rid of the hand lure so my hands are by my side I then reward from both hands by letting my dog jump up on me treat in both hands just under my chin. Keeps them nice and straight no anticipating of reward from either side.

You can then start downing your dog farther and farther away or start tossing a treat away and ask for the front on the return.

[ladyfreckles]

Thanks guys!