How do I teach my puppy to sit and respond to its name?

Short answer

Teach sit with lure-and-reward: hold a treat at your puppy's nose, slowly raise it back over their head so their rear lowers, then reward the instant they sit. Never push the rear down. For name response, mark and reward every time your puppy looks at you when you say their name.

Sourced from veterinary authorities · not a diagnosis · anything risky goes to a vet.

Who this is for

Puppy and new-dog owners teaching a first cue and building attention to their name.

When this doesn’t apply

Forcing a fearful, overtired, or overexcited puppy to perform
Physically pushing or molding the dog into position
Long drilling sessions that frustrate a young puppy

Step by step

Set up for success
Train when your puppy is relaxed and in a spot with few distractions, with a handful of small treats ready.
Lure the sit
With your puppy standing, hold a treat to their nose and slowly lift it up and back over their head. As their nose follows, their back end lowers to the floor.
Mark and reward
The moment their rear touches the ground, praise or click and give the treat. Reset by tossing a treat or walking away, then repeat.
Fade the lure and add the word
Once your puppy follows reliably, use an empty-hand motion and reward from the other hand, then add the cue "sit" just before the hand signal.
Build name response
Say your puppy's name once; the instant they look at you, mark with "yes" and reward. Practice this check-in often, including calling their name and rewarding when they turn back to you.

What changes the answer

Your puppy's age, focus, and energy level that session
How distracting the environment is
The value of the treats and the timing of your reward
Whether you keep sessions short and upbeat

Common mistakes

Pushing the puppy's rear down, which can feel intimidating or confusing
Waiting too long to reward, so the puppy pops back up before the treat arrives
Adding the word "sit" before the puppy reliably offers the behavior
Repeating the puppy's name many times so it becomes background noise

Sources

How to Teach Your Dog to Sit — AKC · Tier 2 · verified 2026-07-20
How to Teach a Puppy to Walk on a Leash — AKC · Tier 2 · verified 2026-07-20

Common questions

My puppy jumps up instead of sitting. What now?

Lift the treat more slowly and only slightly over the head so they tip back rather than jump. Reward the instant the rear touches down.

When should I stop using treats?

Fade the food lure first by using an empty hand, then reward from the other hand. Keep occasionally rewarding real-life sits so the behavior stays strong.

How do I get my puppy to actually respond to its name?

Say the name once and reward the moment they look at you. Keep it positive; don't use the name for scolding, or it stops predicting good things.