Great Grandma is coming over to visit – quick, get Rover outside in the back yard so he doesn’t knock her over! If only he didn’t jump, he could stay in the room and greet the company!

Okay, so, admittedly, the “most important” behavior to teach your dog might be subjective, but, in our experience, teaching our dogs to “sit to say ‘please’” or, as author, trainer, and bull terrier breeder Jane Messineo Lindquist calls it, to “mand”, has changed the game for us. It gives our friends, family, and guests of all sorts the opportunity to be able to appreciate our dogs’ sweet personalities and adorable demeanors rather than making our visitors feel affronted by unwanted jumping and barking. We have taught our dogs that they don’t need to jump or bark to get our attention, or to have new friends love on them. Instead, they sit.

By teaching a dog to sit in order to ask for something (attention, treats, their leash, etc.), you give them the ability to communicate. You give them a voice. They can tell you they want or need something without having to jump or perform a behavior that might be less desirable.

Our dogs sit to ask for pets, sit to ask for treats, sit to ask to snuggle in your lap, and more. In fact, in this photo, I am holding Gwenny in my lap and Holly is sitting to let me know that she would like her playmate back, please and thank you. By teaching her this behavior as a puppy, she has a way to communicate with us lifelong.

While, from a practical standpoint, manding is an extremely convenient behavior to instill in your four-pawed family members so that they have an outlet to communicate with you, there are much deeper benefits beyond just the face-value advantages when you choose to give your dog a voice. If you’re curious to learn more about the effects this simple behavior can have on your furry friend, check out this article from Jane Messineo Lindquist. And, if an eager-to-please and fun-to-train companion is what you seek, mini goldendoodles can be a great fit – and we happen to know you can get some high-quality cuties right here! Visit our Available Puppies page or email savannah@cozycovegoldendoodles.com to find out more today.