Why some trainers say sit and stay shouldn’t come first
Bottom line
Whole Dog Journal is pushing back on the idea that a dog’s first lessons should be “sit” and “stay.” In a September 28, 2026 article tied to a new video feature, certified trainer Jae Thomas said pet parents should start instead with three foundations: settling, engagement, and teaching the dog how to learn through clear markers and reward-based reinforcement. Thomas argues that dogs who can calm themselves, choose to orient to their handler, and understand the learning process are better prepared for later obedience work. (whole-dog-journal.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the message lines up with current behavior guidance that favors reward-based training and early support for the human-animal bond. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior says reward-based methods should be used for all dog training and behavior modification, and it advises veterinarians to refer clients to humane, qualified trainers while incorporating behavior assessment into routine care. That makes this more than a consumer training tip: it reinforces a preventive behavior framework clinics can use when counseling new pet parents, especially around puppies, overarousal, handling tolerance, and realistic expectations for early training. (avsab.org)
What to watch: Expect more clinics, trainers, and pet media to frame early training around regulation and engagement first, with traditional cues following once those foundations are in place. (whole-dog-journal.com)
Whole Dog Journal’s latest training video takes aim at one of the most familiar pieces of dog-training advice: teach “sit” and “stay” first. In a companion article published September 28, 2026, the outlet highlighted trainer Jae Thomas’s view that the earliest priorities should instead be settling, engagement, and helping dogs understand how learning works. The premise is simple: before dogs can reliably perform cues, they need the ability to regulate arousal, choose to connect with their handler, and succeed in a reward-based learning process. (whole-dog-journal.com)
That framing fits a broader shift in companion-animal behavior guidance away from compliance-first training and toward welfare-centered, relationship-based approaches. Whole Dog Journal has long emphasized no-force training, and Thomas’s recommendations build on that editorial stance by arguing that one-on-one relationship building is often skipped in favor of socialization checklists and obedience milestones. In the article, she says the common mistake is forcing attention or confinement rather than teaching those skills as voluntary, reinforced behaviors. (whole-dog-journal.com)
The three skills Thomas elevates are practical and familiar to behavior professionals, even if they’re not always presented as the “first lessons” for pet parents. Settling means teaching a dog to calm down in a crate, pen, on a tether, or on a place bed, particularly for dogs that don’t naturally come with an “off switch.” Engagement is defined as the dog choosing to pay attention because the interaction is rewarding, not because the dog feels pressured. The third piece, teaching a dog how to learn, relies on clear criteria, a marker such as a clicker or verbal “yes,” and reinforcement for desirable choices, essentially a shaping-based introduction to training. (whole-dog-journal.com)
Outside the article itself, the strongest expert context comes from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. AVSAB’s 2021 humane dog training statement says evidence supports reward-based methods for all canine training and states there is no evidence that aversive training is necessary for dog training or behavior modification. The group says reward-based methods offer advantages for welfare, training effectiveness, and the dog-human relationship, and notes that veterinarians should recommend qualified, humane trainers and include behavior assessment in patient care. In a 2025 board clarification, AVSAB said it continues to stand firmly behind that 2021 statement and emphasized that aversive tools should not be used under any circumstances. (avsab.org)
That alignment matters because Thomas’s advice is not just a stylistic training preference. It maps onto the kind of anticipatory guidance many veterinary teams already try to provide in puppy visits and new-dog appointments: build calm, reinforce attention, avoid coercion, and set realistic expectations before behavior problems become entrenched. A dog that can settle in the home, orient to a handler voluntarily, and tolerate stepwise learning is often better positioned for cooperative care, safer handling, and more successful referral-based training. AVSAB’s public materials also connect these decisions to trainer selection, urging pet parents and veterinary professionals to look for science-based, humane methods and to avoid outdated dominance-based language. (whole-dog-journal.com)
For veterinary professionals, the practical takeaway is that “what to teach first” can be a useful counseling entry point. Rather than focusing only on whether a puppy knows cues, clinics can ask whether the dog can disengage and relax, offer attention voluntarily, and learn in short, successful repetitions. That lens may be especially useful in cases involving overarousal, frustration, poor leash behavior, difficulty with confinement, or stress in the clinic, where foundational regulation often matters more than formal obedience. AVSAB’s position that behavior should be part of every patient visit supports that broader preventive role for the veterinary team. (avsab.org)
There are still limits to how far this specific story goes. Whole Dog Journal’s piece is an interview-driven educational article, not a new study, guideline, or regulatory action. It doesn’t overturn the importance of recall, sit-stay, or leash manners; in fact, the article explicitly says those safety-related behaviors still need to be proofed and made reliable. The shift is more about sequencing and emphasis than about abandoning obedience work altogether. (whole-dog-journal.com)
What to watch: The next question is whether this consumer-facing message shows up more formally in clinic education, trainer referrals, and puppy guidance materials, especially as veterinary behavior groups continue to stress reward-based care and early intervention for behavior concerns. (avsab.org)