Lesson Four - The "STAY" command

[dolmod]

Fourth chapter in the DOL Training Guide: Teaching your dog to "STAY".

No debating which technique is better or worse, just simple step by step guides from members for members.

Videos welcome.

[Ward]

The best way I've seen to teach stay is to sit them in a spot, tell them "Stay". Wait 1 second, treat. Tell them "Stay". Wait 1 second, treat. This is just for learning what "Stay" means.

You can then introduce a release word (such as "Break" or "Okay").

Then you gradually increase the amount of time before you release them with a release word.

Once they are able to stay still for 30 seconds, start taking one step away for 1 second, coming back, and treating. Then two seconds, etc. Then take two steps away, and so on.

[Titan_87]

I like to use behavior loops for teaching stay. The reason for this is because it teaches not only the "stay" command but the release word as well. I have been seeing a lot of dogs lately that don't know what the release word means.

1. Put the dog in a sit or down

2. Give hand signal and verbal command. Wait 1 sec. Give release word and toss treat.

3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 until the dog is staying reliably for 1 sec. Slowly increase time. NEVER go past what your dog can do. You want to be able to release your dog and not have your dog break a stay.

4. After your dog will stay for 30 seconds you may start to increase distance (1 step at a time).

5. There are 3 variables to this command: Duration, Distance and Distractions. Whenever you increase one variable, you need to relax the others. For instance if you increase distance, don't require that they hold the stay for very long and make sure there arn't any new distractions.

I will attach a video later when I have WiFi access!

[Meatos]

The rewards are always taking place DURING the stay, never after the release. If you make a big fuss over the dog after the release (thinking you are rewarding the stay), the stay is weakened (because you are actually rewarding the release!).

It is also helpful to teach a stay when the dog is tired and more likely to want to stay rather than get up and play.

[Xenasmom]

Question....

Zoey is great with Stay...but when I give her the release command...she takes off...Like outta control take off.

Whether it is in the house or outside...

Any suggestions?

[Ward]

When I give Zack a release word, sometimes he'll be so excited he shoots out of the sit or down I have him in. I give him an "oops" and take him right back to the spot he shot out of. We do it over and over until he releases nicely.

[jcpoff]

This is great. I think I have been doing it wrong . I tell her to wait take a step then say ok. I didn't think about the time thing. Thanks for the info everyone.

[smb]

My 13 week old puppy will sit and stay for his supper. He will sit an look me in the face until I say o.k. - this is actually great because it is helping train my 7 year old too - but any other time I try to work on Stay he doesn't listen. If I put my had out to motion stay he actually jumps up and runs around.

any suggestions?

[BigLittleSmall]

I put mine in a sit (get that good and down pat first, a snap and a finger pointed at the floor while I say sit) then put my index finger up (like I'm going to say shh, but don't say it) and say "stay", then immediantly give a treat or praise (I don't treat alot tho, mine work well off a high pitched, goofy "good boy or girl" or "YAY and their name"). Then I practice that several times.

The next time I practice the stay I put them in a sit, put my finger up and say "stay", back up "stay. Treat or praise. When I'm finished I say "go" and I casually just turn and walk away. (the finger, imo, works great; because when I'm on the phone or someone comes to the door .. I just put my finger up and everyone *usually* sits down and stays there lol)

Next time we practice it's: sit, finger, "stay", back up, "stay", back up, treat/praise, "go" and I walk away.

If they break the stay, we just start over and repeat until they "get it", no anxiety or anything .. just "sit" and start over from where we left off.

I continue doing this until I can back up across the entire room. I guess I don't make a big deal out of "go" so they don't get excited, or haven't yet lol (watch, they will now lol).

[enzosmom]

I love this! Stay is the one command Enzo is having the hardest time with. He can "Go Lay Down" on his blanket while we eat but if I am walking to the end of my driveway and tell him to "stay" he will wander (not close to the street but into the yard)
I love these suggestions and am def going to start some tonight

[dagarza]

When is the best time to train? What time of the day?

When is the best time to train my 8 week dane, and for how long?

[jadasmom.1]

With an 8 week old I would train before every meal, so three or four times a day. I would only train for like two minutes at that age. Not two minutes of a stay just two minutes of any and all training. My boy who is a year and half now is up to 10 minutes of training at a time. Try clicker training it is awesome!