Teaching "stand" and position transitions
Teaching the "stand", then stringing sit, stand and down together in a shuffled order: these are puppy push-ups. You show the position with a treat, you say the word once, you reward. No handling, your dog gets there on their own. It's cleverer than it looks, and it builds up their hindquarters along the way.
Why it's cleverer than it looks
This is cue discrimination: three words, three responses, in an unpredictable order. Far more demanding than a plain "sit", and that's exactly what makes it such a lovely thinking game. If your dog gets stuck, it's not that they're being stubborn: often, they were only telling their sit from their down by your hand gesture, never by the word.
Two positions need to be solid before you string them together. If that's not the case yet, no worries: you go back to those basics first, no pressure.
0 / 4Teaching the "stand"
A few minutes are enough. You lure, you mark, you fade.
Start with your dog sitting
Get down beside them, calmly, on the mat or in the grass.
Lure them forwards and up
A treat drawn horizontally, at nose height and forwards: they step forward and rise onto all four legs. A hand rested very gently under the belly can encourage them, never lifting or pushing.
Mark and reward the rise
As soon as they're standing, a short marker word ("yes!") then the treat.
Empty your hand early
After a few successes, same gesture with an empty hand, and the reward comes from the other hand. The gesture then shrinks down to a small signal.
Add the word "stand"
When the rise becomes predictable, say "stand" just before, only once.
Stringing the three positions together
Work each transition as a mini-exercise, then mix them up.
Start with pairs
Sit to stand, stand to sit, then stand to down. Reward the transition itself, not just the final position.
Watch the direct down to sit
Many dogs stand up fully before sitting back down. Only mark the direct move, without going via the stand.
Mix up the order
Sit, down, stand, sit, stand... in a shuffled order. This is the heart of the trick.
If they anticipate, wait
If they offer the next position before your word, it means they've learned "their" sequence by heart: stay quiet, and only reward the response to the cue you actually gave.
Ease off the treats
Once it's smooth, one reward for two then three transitions, sometimes after one, sometimes after another.
Keep the sets short: this is a physical and cognitive exercise. A few sparkling transitions are worth more than a long session that fizzles out.
What it's really good for
A canine squat
- Each down to stand works the hindquarters and the core.
- Two minutes, no equipment, in the living room.
An easier vet exam
- A dog who stands on cue lets themselves be handled and examined without anyone having to reposition them by hand.
A warm-up before play
- A few slow transitions wake up the hips and shoulders before a more physical session.
To go further
- AVSAB — Position statement on humane dog training (2021)
- Demant et al. — The effect of frequency and duration of training sessions on acquisition and long-term memory in dogs (2011)
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach my dog to "stand"?
Start with them sitting and lure them forwards with a treat at nose height: they rise onto all four legs. Mark it with a "yes!", reward, then empty your hand and add the word "stand" once the rise becomes predictable. Never by lifting them.
What are "puppy push-ups"?
It's stringing sit, stand and down together in a varied order. The goal isn't performance: it's an excellent thinking game (your dog has to tell three words apart) and a little core exercise for their hindquarters.
My dog anticipates the order of the positions, why?
Because they've learned "their" sequence by heart rather than the words: it's actually a fairly good sign, they've understood the game. Mix up the order, and when they offer a position before your cue, wait in silence and only reward the response to the real word.
Do I need a clicker to teach the positions?
No, a short marker word works perfectly well: a crisp "yes!" at the exact moment they take the position, followed by the treat. The marker says "that's what pays", and your voice does it beautifully.
At what age can I teach the stand and the transitions?
As soon as the sit and the down hold on the word alone, even in a puppy. Slow transitions on the floor are gentle: keep to very short sets, with no running or jumping around, on a floor with good grip.
My dog refuses a transition, is it serious?
If it's new when it used to go well, think first of discomfort rather than stubbornness, especially in an older dog. Ease off the down to stand moves, simplify the exercise, and if the refusal sticks around, ask your vet's advice.
Read nextNext in this pathDonne la patte, high-five & salutReadLoading your progress…