Clicker Training
Clicker Training is a hands-off approach to dog training. A click replaces your verbal reaction to a behavior, and freezes that moment in time. It also signals that the dog did something good, and that a treat is coming.
Here is a basic outline:
To start you get a clicker or other device that makes a distinct noise the dog has never heard before. You want a noise that is short and easily identifieable, but not something teh dog will hear outside training. Most pet stores sell clickers for a few dollars, but you might have to search for them.
You now want to pair the click with the treat. If your dog works for food this is easy. if not, some dogs need to be rewarded with a toy. You click and a fewe seconds later give them a treat. you prefer to not be holding the treats, but have them somewhere off your person where the dog can't see them right away, your goal is the treat being a surprise the first few times. Click and treat for long enough that your dog starts anticipating the treat. Some dogs catch on to this faster than others.
Now it splits into whether your dog has been trained before or if they no nothing.
If your dog has been trained before ask for a behavior they are good at. Just as they complete the behavior click then treat. With a few repetitions this should increase the speed your dog executes a behavior.
If your dog has no training you will be looking more toward shaping. This is where you clcik when the dog makes a motion anything like what you want. This isn't too necessary with a simple behavior like sit, but for something more complex it would work. For sit you would just ait until the dog sits then click and treat. Once the dog is offering sit relieably, you would want to start saying sit right before they do it, or giving the hand sugnal you want to associate with sit.
For more info see the references bleow.
References:
Pryor, Karen. Don't Shoot the Dog. 2006. Earlier version does not have chapter on clicker training.
Tillman, Peggy. Clicking With Your Dog: Step-By-Step in Pictures. 2006.
http://www.clickertraining.com/
-- Clicker Training Resource
http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/rloftus/click.htm
-- Article on Clicker Training