How To Train Your Dog To Stay
“Stay” is a very common command that is very important to teach your dog. Not only is this a great obedience training, you can use this command at dog parks, when there are new strangers in your home, during walks, and during times when you do not want your dog beside you (while you are cooking on a hot stove, while you are holding a baby, etc.). To begin training ‘stay’ you should first teach your dog to ‘sit’ (you can find our directions for teaching your dog to sit here).
Tell your dog to “Sit”
To begin teaching your dog to stay you should have your dog sit. This puts them in a position where they cannot easily follow you. Hold a treat in your hand so your dog can see it. Do not instantly reward your dog for sitting. Instead, move from this command to the ‘stay’ command.
Make eye contact with dog say ‘Stay’ firmly
Make direct eye contact with your dog and with a confident and assertive voice say “Stay”. Do not shout, but annunciate the word so your dog can clearly understand you. Putting a flat hand up in the air (similar to the way a cross-walk worker would tell traffic to stop) gives your dog a visual cue to stay put. Continue to show your dog the treat in your other hand.
Take one step back- Repeating the command ‘Sit, Stay’
Take one step away from your dog. Repeat the command “Sit” and “Stay” as you are stepping back. If your dog begins to follow you- once again say the command “Sit”. Once they are sitting, take a step back again saying ‘Stay’.
If dog stays, reward them with treat
If the dog stays when you move back, move forward to them and reward them with the treat. If they do not stay, once again command them to “sit”, move back commanding them to “stay”, and continue this action until they stay. Once they stay, you may reward them with the treat.
Each time move further and further away
The next time you tell your dog to “stay” move back two steps- reward them when they have stayed. Continue this process until you can take many steps, or even leave the room. If they stay where you have told them to, always reward them with a treat.
Come BACK to the dog to give them a treat
Always return to the dog when giving them the treat. Do not have them come to you- as this only deters the idea of staying. You want them to stay where you told them to, and then you can return to them to give them the treat.
Tell your dog to “Sit”
To begin teaching your dog to stay you should have your dog sit. This puts them in a position where they cannot easily follow you. Hold a treat in your hand so your dog can see it. Do not instantly reward your dog for sitting. Instead, move from this command to the ‘stay’ command.
Make eye contact with dog say ‘Stay’ firmly
Make direct eye contact with your dog and with a confident and assertive voice say “Stay”. Do not shout, but annunciate the word so your dog can clearly understand you. Putting a flat hand up in the air (similar to the way a cross-walk worker would tell traffic to stop) gives your dog a visual cue to stay put. Continue to show your dog the treat in your other hand.
Take one step back- Repeating the command ‘Sit, Stay’
Take one step away from your dog. Repeat the command “Sit” and “Stay” as you are stepping back. If your dog begins to follow you- once again say the command “Sit”. Once they are sitting, take a step back again saying ‘Stay’.
If dog stays, reward them with treat
If the dog stays when you move back, move forward to them and reward them with the treat. If they do not stay, once again command them to “sit”, move back commanding them to “stay”, and continue this action until they stay. Once they stay, you may reward them with the treat.
Each time move further and further away
The next time you tell your dog to “stay” move back two steps- reward them when they have stayed. Continue this process until you can take many steps, or even leave the room. If they stay where you have told them to, always reward them with a treat.
Come BACK to the dog to give them a treat
Always return to the dog when giving them the treat. Do not have them come to you- as this only deters the idea of staying. You want them to stay where you told them to, and then you can return to them to give them the treat.
