Home Based Dog Training

The stay command helps in making the dog calm when you are doing your household chores, attending guests or talking over phone. Like the “come” command, the “stay” command also helps in protecting the dog from unpleasant and dangerous situations.

So as to train your dog to stay, first of all make sure, your dog is familiar with the release command like “free” or “okay” as “stay” is a temporary phase from where the dog wants to come out as soon as possible.

Step 1:

A successful stay means holding of the dog’s position for several minutes. To begin with, give the “sit” command to your dog. Praise him without unseating him. Hold the position for three to four seconds. Then firmly call his name followed by the command “stay”. You can make use of hand positions like that of stop to positively reinforce the command. Pamper him with a treat and praise him without showing any over excitement.

After making him stay for a couple of seconds release him using the commands such as “free” or “okay”.

Step 2:

Give the “stay” command again after moving a few steps backwards. Repeat the whole procedure not more than four times, without missing the treats! If making use of hand positions, use them every time you give the command to stay so as to avoid the confusion.

Step 3:

Once the dog starts obeying the “stay” command, gradually start increasing the time of staying. Begin with few seconds and take it to several minutes. Move out to outdoors and different places and follow the procedure.

And, within a weeks time the dog will be successfully trained to the command.

The use of certain tips and techniques makes it easy to communicate your intentions to the dog. The most vital and basic tip for the dog’s training is “Do not lose patience!”

1. Initially, you should be visible to the dog when he is in a “stay” mode. Then gradually you can start leaving the room, not more than a few seconds to begin with. This avoids the chances of confusion created when the dog associate the “stay” command with your absence.
2. Try to encourage your dog to lie down or sit while in the stay mode. This practice helps the dog to stay relaxed if the command is given for more than a few minutes.
3. How well your dog has learnt to stay, that could be and should be tested by introducing distractions. Such as, you can call upon your friend, or start playing with a squeaky toy. The successful “stay” command will not let the dog move out of his place.
4. Be generous in giving treats for initial two days but make them occasional once the dog starts responding to the commands.

5. Do not scold or punish the dog when he disobeys you. Any mistake or disobedience made by the dog simply means you lack some where in your training! He is a dog with his basic temperament and characteristics; it is you who have to modify them to suit your convenience.