Mary Allen
There is nothing simpler than the command “Stay!” one might think when looking at this command from the outside. After all, the dog should only stand, sit or lie exactly where it is. But it is exactly this doing nothing that is difficult and requires a lot of trusts from dogs and humans.
A Command With Many Possibilities
The command “Stay!”, which at first glance seems so unspectacular, is extremely helpful when living with a dog. Because it’s not just about the dog waiting patiently in front of the bakery in the morning. Rather, “Stay!” is indispensable in a wide variety of situations.
- For example, you need this command if you want your dog to wait in its basket when visitors come through the door.
- Or he should remain seated while you hide treats for a hidden object game around the apartment.
- It is also important for the ball and fetch games that your dog can wait until you give the command to start running and bring it back.
- And a dog that reliably carries out the command “Stay!” is also safe outside without a leash.
- For example, he then learned to wait until a fellow animal, a walker or a rider had passed the path.
- And your dog will learn to endure a “boring” situation.
Proceed in 3 Steps
Work on the duration of the command first, then the distance, and finally the difficulty.
Step 1: Increase the duration in small increments
As always, it’s important that you begin in a low-stimulus training environment. So at home or in the garden.
- Send your dog to Place! Now you give a visual signal, e.g. B. the raised hand open to him (similar to a stop sign). And say “Stay!”
- Wait a moment and then give him a reward. Very important: The reward is only given when he is still lying completely on the ground, and not when he has already lifted his bottom, etc.!
Extra tip: You can ask your dog to “stay!” while standing, sitting, or lying down. But initially, it is easiest to get the dog used to this command while lying down. If he does want to move and leave his place, this is a complex movement sequence that you can quickly see and stop immediately.
- If your dog has already internalized the command “down!”, it won’t be difficult for him to lie there for a few seconds or even minutes. But also test if he stays put if you stop but shift your attention away from him to something else and look in a different direction.
- Definitely disband the stay commando! For example with an “O. K.!” or “Go!”. It is important that your dog only gets treats when he is lying on the floor – and never when you have released him from the exercise. Otherwise, he might think there’s a biscuit for getting up – and that’s not the point.
- Repeat the exercise a few times and slowly increase the length of time you lie down. If you have the impression that your dog has understood what is at stake, you move on to the next step.
Step 2: Gradually increase the distance
While you’re standing right next to your dog, it’s not very difficult for him to stay in that position. That’s why it’s getting harder now as you move away from him.
- Send your dog back to the down position and give him the command “Stay!”.
- Now remove yourself. First a few steps, then a meter, finally several meters. Initially, you walk backward so you’re looking at him and he realizes you’re still “with him.”
- Don’t keep repeating your “Stay!” command. Once is enough.
- Go back to him and reward him.
- Increase the distance over time. But in small steps that are adapted to your dog. Don’t overwhelm him, always try to catch the moment before he even thinks about getting up. You have to be faster and then be on your way back.
- Go a little further. Next time you’ll turn your back on him; then walk around it once, sit on a chair, move faster across the room, etc.
If it does not work …
The stay-in exercise just looks so easy – it requires a lot of focus, self-control, and trust from your dog. Therefore, do not overdo it and only work briefly on this new command at first. Don’t get impatient when your dog gets up, but lead him back to the exact spot where he was supposed to lie before without comment. Then repeat the exercise but reduce the challenge, i.e. the duration or distance, so that you can stop with a positive result.
Don’t let your dog move even a little bit from his spot and “crawl” after you. If you are not sure whether he is sneaking half a meter behind your back, you can put the leash in front of him as a marker, for example. That way you can see if he sneaked up or not. Or you hold a small cosmetic mirror in your hand and look backward without turning around. Your dog will be amazed that you seem to even have “eyes in the back”.
Step 3: Increase the difficulty
If your dog reliably carries out the stay command, you can increase the level of difficulty. And now the command is really fun because you can use it for many joint exercises and also practice and consolidate it again and again.
- So far your dog could still see you? Then now go into another room while he is supposed to stay lying down.
- Outside, practice having your dog lie next to you while other dogs play in the grass.
- Leave him outside while you run away from him.
- Throw a ball – preferably without too much momentum at first – and let your dog wait until you send him after it with a “Bring!”
- You can also practice patience before the walk: tell him to lie still in the hallway until you have dressed and gotten ready. Only then does it start?
After a while, practice the “stay!” while sitting or standing, until it works reliably and you see that your dog trusts you to come back to him.
With patience to the safe command stay
- Start in a low-stimulus environment.
- Slowly increase Duration and Distance, one at a time, not all at the same time.
- Reward only when you return to the dog. Not when he comes to you!
- Always keep the command Stay!
- If your dog gets up, bring him back to the starting point without comment and repeat the exercise or reduce the difficulty.