Stay Command
The stay command is one of the hardest for puppies and young dogs to master. Asking a dog, who only wants to sit on his owner’s feet or lean against her while she is in the kitchen, to stay put in another area is almost asking too much! Like the other basic commands, however, the stay is a lifesaver. A dog who is taught to stay won’t chase a duck in a pen or charge a cow in a field. The dog who understands stay can also go on to more advanced obedience or rally competitions.
The goal with stay is to teach your dog that his job is to remain right where he is until given further instructions.
How to Teach Stay
To teach the stay:
- Put a leash on your dog and have him sit comfortably next to you.
- Wave a flat palm toward his muzzle and say “Stay.”
- Step in front of your dog, wait a few seconds, and then step back beside him.
- Reward him for not breaking his stay.
- If he moves, calmly say “Oops” or “Uh uh” and put him back where he was initially. Again, give the stay command along with the hand signal.
- Practice this multiple times every day in different locations.
After rewarding him with praise and a treat for success, teach him a release word, or the word you will say when it’s time for him to be released from the stay. A good release word is “okay.”