Training Your Dog to Stay - 5 Simple Steps

Stay is a basic command that all dogs need to know. Stay means that your dog will remain in the exact position that they were in when given the command. This is slightly different to the wait command, where the dog is permitted to change position or perhaps even move within a small area until given a release command.

To start, first find a quiet, safe area to train, preferably a fenced in yard or field. If working in the open, keep your dog on a collar and leash so they cannot run off.

The command to stay should be taught with the dog in the sit, down and stand positions, but when starting out, use the position in which your dog is the most comfortable; this is often the sit.

To begin, have your dog sit. Wait until they have settled, then stand with the dog to your left. Put your left hand just in front of their nose with your palm facing towards them, and say "stay".

Move forward one or two steps, and then turn to face your dog. Wait a couple of seconds and then return to them, again standing by their right side. If your dog looks like they are about to move, you can repeat the stay command. If your dog does move, do not say anything, simply return to them, put them back into a sit and begin the exercise again.

Once you have successfully returned to your dog without them moving, give them a treat, wait a few seconds, then give your release word (for example OK or finished) and allow them to get up. Praise your dog but do not give another treat so they don't think that the treat is for moving.

The exercise should be repeated several times, with the total length of the session being limited to 10-15 minutes.

When your dog stays reliably, gradually increase the time and then distance between you until you can be out of sight for several minutes. Finally add distractions, perhaps having dogs walk close by or having someone make a loud noise. If you find your dog keeps breaking from the stay, return to a point where they stayed reliably and restart training from that point. To perfect the skill be sure to practice regularly.

Training your dog to stay should be enjoyable and fun for both you and your dog. Long sessions with few rewards quickly become boring and your dog will stop listening and learning. Keeping sessions short and frequent will ensure you will succeed.

Visit Train Your New Dog for more tips and advice on effectively training your dog.