How To Teach A Dog To Stay

How to Teach a Dog to Stay and Wait


teach a dog to stayLearning how to teach a dog to stay and wait is easy, but you should make sure they know how to sit and lie down when you tell them to. Teaching them to stay is excellent because it really shows how much control you have over your dog. Keep in mind that some people use stay along with other commands. When they use it, they simply want their dog to hold their position, whether that is lying down, sitting, or doing something else.

That's not all you can use "Stay" for though!

Another great reason to teach your dog to stay is so you can help them have a spot where they are calm. If you get a dog bed, for example, and you want your dog to only be there while they are in the house, you can tell them to stay. Another use of the command, and probably the most important for that matter, is to keep your dog under your control when you don't want them to chase after something.

You might not want your dog to run off your property in the front yard, or you might want your dog to stay away from the patio when you have people over. Either way, by teaching them how to stay, you will be able to control these things.

For some dogs, learning how to stay is difficult because they want to be by your side at all times. This is especially true for puppies! Since that is the case, it's a good idea to try to train them when they are not in play mode. You might do this late at night before they usually go into their crate or after you have played fetch with them. That way, they will be calm and able to focus.

How to Teach a Dog to Stay and Wait - Part 1

The first thing you are going to want to do is stand in front of your dog and get them in the desired position (they can be sitting or lying down). If they hold the position that you gave to them without popping right back out of it, give them a treat and praise them. What you're doing is showing them that popping out of a position is not the best choice because it won't help them get praise or a tasty treat.

You'll essentially practice this very simple step a couple of times until your dog is doing it well. If your dog messes up, all you have to do is correct them (be sure to withold a treat if they do something wrong).

When you see that your dog knows to hold the position, you are going to attach your verbal command so they know when to do it. A lot of people like to add a hand signal with the stay command as well but that is purely optional. Tell your dog to lie down or sit and when they hold it say your command. If you're doing a hand signal that you can do that at the same time. If they continue to stay, be sure to reward them and give them praise for doing it right!

Practice this often so your dog learns what "Stay" means!

How to Teach a Dog to Stay and Wait - Part 2

Once your dog has an idea about what is expected of them when you tell them to stay, you will be ready to start showing them more advanced versions of the commands. You'll want to gradually get them to stay for longer periods of time, regardless of how far you get from them or what else is going on. This will be hard for your dog at first, but if you're building on the command you showed them from Part 1, they'll get it.

All you are going to do know is gradually start taking a step back with each time you command you dog to stay. It will probably be a little easier for them when you are relatively close, but as you get farther away they'll be tempted to come to you. Make sure to correct them if they don't hold the position, and if they do, give them a lot of praise and a nice treat! Keep cementing in their mind how great it works out when they obey you.

Keep working with your dog to teach them how to stay until they do it every time.

When your dog has really gotten good at the stay command, you should slowly transition them to places with plenty of distractions. You can move to the front yard or the park where they will really have to focus on listening to you. Keep rewarding them for doing it right and correcting them for not staying.

So if you have been wondering how to teach a dog to stay, you'll be glad to know that it's not too challenging! As long as you build on commands like sit and lie down, you'll be able to help mold your dog into a well controlled pet that really trusts you.
How to Teach a Dog to Stay and Wait

Learning how to teach a dog to stay and wait is easy, but you should make sure they know how to sit and lie down when you tell them to. Teaching them to stay is excellent because it really shows how much control you have over your dog. Keep in mind that some people use stay along with other commands. When they use it, they simply want their dog to hold their position, whether that is lying down, sitting, or doing something else.

That's not all you can use "Stay" for though!

Another great reason to teach your dog to stay is so you can help them have a spot where they are calm. If you get a dog bed, for example, and you want your dog to only be there while they are in the house, you can tell them to stay. Another use of the command, and probably the most important for that matter, is to keep your dog under your control when you don't want them to chase after something.

You might not want your dog to run off your property in the front yard, or you might want your dog to stay away from the patio when you have people over. Either way, by teaching them how to stay, you will be able to control these things.

For some dogs, learning how to stay is difficult because they want to be by your side at all times. This is especially true for puppies! Since that is the case, it's a good idea to try to train them when they are not in play mode. You might do this late at night before they usually go into their crate or after you have played fetch with them. That way, they will be calm and able to focus.

How to Teach a Dog to Stay and Wait - Part 1

The first thing you are going to want to do is stand in front of your dog and get them in the desired position (they can be sitting or lying down). If they hold the position that you gave to them without popping right back out of it, give them a treat and praise them. What you're doing is showing them that popping out of a position is not the best choice because it won't help them get praise or a tasty treat.

You'll essentially practice this very simple step a couple of times until your dog is doing it well. If your dog messes up, all you have to do is correct them (be sure to withold a treat if they do something wrong).

When you see that your dog knows to hold the position, you are going to attach your verbal command so they know when to do it. A lot of people like to add a hand signal with the stay command as well but that is purely optional. Tell your dog to lie down or sit and when they hold it say your command. If you're doing a hand signal that you can do that at the same time. If they continue to stay, be sure to reward them and give them praise for doing it right!

Practice this often so your dog learns what "Stay" means!

How to Teach a Dog to Stay and Wait - Part 2

Once your dog has an idea about what is expected of them when you tell them to stay, you will be ready to start showing them more advanced versions of the commands. You'll want to gradually get them to stay for longer periods of time, regardless of how far you get from them or what else is going on. This will be hard for your dog at first, but if you're building on the command you showed them from Part 1, they'll get it.

All you are going to do know is gradually start taking a step back with each time you command you dog to stay. It will probably be a little easier for them when you are relatively close, but as you get farther away they'll be tempted to come to you. Make sure to correct them if they don't hold the position, and if they do, give them a lot of praise and a nice treat! Keep cementing in their mind how great it works out when they obey you.

Keep working with your dog to teach them how to stay until they do it every time.

When your dog has really gotten good at the stay command, you should slowly transition them to places with plenty of distractions. You can move to the front yard or the park where they will really have to focus on listening to you. Keep rewarding them for doing it right and correcting them for not staying.

So if you have been wondering how to teach a dog to stay, you'll be glad to know that it's not too challenging! As long as you build on commands like sit and lie down, you'll be able to help mold your dog into a well controlled pet that really trusts you.

 


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