Teaching your dog to stay is a valuable command for their safety and your peace of mind. Before you teach this command, make sure that your dog is proficient at sit and lie down. Additionally, when you are speaking a command you want your dog to listen to you. If your furry friend struggles in one of these areas, work on that first. Read our previous blogs on these topics to aid you, “Simple Ways to Teach Your Dog How to Lie Down,” and “How to Teach Your Dog How to Sit,”. Continue reading to learn helpful tips to teach the stay command.
- Pick definitie beginning and ending words. Make sure that you say “stay” when you expect your puppy to stay and pick one release word to use. Some examples are “ok”, “free”, “release,”. Your dog will learn this word and understand that they can leave the position. If you do not pick one word, it will confuse them. This leaves you frustrated because you may feel that they aren’t listening, when they don’t know what command you are requiring.
- Use lots of small and delicious dog treats. This style of dog treats will keep the training session moving. Reserve these treats only for training sessions and use different treats to reward your dog for other good behavior.
- Do not give your stay command with food in your hand. This will entice your dog and they will walk up to you.
- Practice often and use different environments. Utilize different parts of your house, front yard, and backyard to practice the command. Once you feel that your canine is paying attention to you and understands the command, you can move onto other places.
- Once your dog is holding the command for a long period of time, increase your distance. When you give the cue, take a few steps backward or to the side. By increasing the distance, you are proactively thinking about future scenarios. This also improves your bond together because your canine is watching you and waiting for the release word.
- Make sure everyone in the household utilizes the same words. For example, if a family member is using the release “all good” and you’re utilizing “ok”, the dog may not fully grasp it. This confuses your canine and causes frustration for others. It is essential to use clarity and the same word when training verbal cues.