Obedience Training: Teaching Your Dog to Stay

Once your dog knows the "sit" command, the next key component of training is to teach him what "stay" means. The stay command teaches your dog that you are in control of his movements. If you want him to remain in a certain place while you answer the door, he needs to be taught that. This command can keep your dog out of a lot of trouble later in life. If he's not supposed to get into something, telling him to stay so you can move the item may protect him from something harmful. Or if your dog sees something he wants to chase, the sit command alone may not hinder his pursuit enough, but "stay" keeps him in place.

The primary reason that "sit" or "down" are abused is that your attention fades and the dog gets up. Sit or down becomes useless for the long term when your dog comes to know that all he has to do is wait a while before getting up on his own. Get rid of this ambiguity by teaching the stay command, which teaches him not to move until released no matter where you are or what's going on around him.

Tell your dog to sit or down. Either will work, and both should be taught with the stay command. Don't move away at first. Stand in front of the dog and delay the treat a few seconds before giving it to her. If your dog responds positively praise her. A straight hand in front of the dog's nose can be used in combination with the verbal command. When you can get your dog to stay in place with you right there for about a minute with a delayed treat, you can start walking back. Give the command and take one step back. Wait a couple seconds and if your dog hasn't budged, praise heavily and give the treat. Step randomly to the side also. Eventually you should be able to walk wherever you want for a few minutes without your dog moving.

In addition to teaching the command, you also need to teach the release command. When you give the release your dog can move, not before. Once your dog has mastered a basic stay without distractions and you still in sight, move to more advanced stays. Start small, but add distractions. Run in place, sit on the floor, clap your hands and walk around the dog, roll her favorite toy across the floor. As long as the command is followed by a reward and you increase only gradual you're dog should have no problem learning this command. Don't push your dog too fast.