Stay

Objective:

• Teach your dog to remain in a designated position until released.

Method:

• Start by asking your dog to sit or lie down in a quiet, distraction-free area. Use a calm tone to establish focus.

• Clearly say “Stay” while holding your hand in front of them as a visual cue. Maintain eye contact to reinforce your command.

• Take a small step back. If your dog remains in place, step back to your dog, then mark the behavior with a click or “Yes!” and reward them immediately with a treat.

• Gradually increase the distance and duration of the stay. Take a few steps back, then return to reward them. Always praise them when they stay in position.

• If they break the stay, gently guide them back to the original spot and repeat the command. Avoid scolding; instead, encourage them positively.

• Practice this exercise in different environments, gradually introducing distractions to reinforce their ability to stay in various situations.

Tips & Troubleshooting:

• Make sure to return to your dog before you mark and reward. In other words, when you take a step back and they stay as expected, step forward to your dog and mark and reward.

  • If you tell your dog to come, and then mark and reward, it can confuse them into thinking that they are rewarded for coming rather than staying in the first place

• If they get up too soon: Start with very short distances and durations; gradually increase as they succeed.

• If they don’t understand: Use treats to encourage them to remain in position, marking and rewarding for small increments of time.

Questions?

Email me at kevin@pawsitivetraining.org your questions and I will help in any way that I can!

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