PAWTENTIAL DOG TRAINING
And Behaviour Consultation
(ABN: 14 965 042 976)
Lyn Witts
Cert IV Dog Behavioural Trainer
Cert IV Veterinary Nurse
TEACHING STAY OR WAIT
Deciding on a Verbal Cue and Visual Signal
- One theory is that if you ask your dog to ‘sit’ or ‘drop’ until you release them,
then you don't need a 'stay' cue!
- Or you may like to give more information to your dog such as ‘Stay’ means ‘do
not move until I get back’ and ‘Wait’ means ‘hang on a sec, I’ll let you know
when to move’. ‘Stay’ becomes a more long term position while ‘Wait’ is used to
stop your dog briefly until you release ‘Ok’ to eat, get in the car, come through
the door, cross the road, greet visitors etc.
- Or, simply use the one cue i.e. ‘Stay’ or ‘Wait’ to mean ‘do not move until I
release’.
- As for a Visual Cue, which is more helpful to your dog than a Verbal Cue, you
may like to hold a palm in front of your dog's face like a 'stop' signal, fingers
pointing to the sky.
- A release cue could be a sweeping of your hand in front of their face to indicate
'you can move now'.
Step One; Introduce Visual and Verbal Cue
- Ask your dog to ‘Sit’ in front of you. Click for the 'sit' position and treat. Hold
your hand in front of your dog, palm facing your dog. Do not move away from
your dog at this point. Treat your dog for not moving as you introduce them to
your Visual Cue. Use a high rate of reinforcement i.e treat often to strengthen
'staying'. Repeat this several times and only proceed to the next step if your dog is
remaining still and focused as you show them your Visual Cue.
Step Two; Introduce a Release Cue
- A release cue is introduced even before you start moving away from your dog.
Give your release cue then encourage them out of the stay. Soon they are moving
to the release cue before you move. We want them to only move out of position
when they hear your release cue rather than move in response to you moving. So
keep consistent with the method of saying your release cue, pause, then encourage
them to move.
Continued...
Page Two
Pawtential Dog Training
Teaching Stay or Wait
Step Three; Introducing Movement
- When you feel your dog can cope with some movement, take half a step back
away from your dog while giving your Visual and Verbal Cue. Return to your dog
and treat. No need to click. If your dog moves, practise Step One and Two more.
- Next, try a full step away from your dog, return, and treat.
- Release your dog regularly so they are connecting 'stay until you hear the release
cue'.
- Gradually extend distance away from your dog working at your dogs pace, not
yours. If your dog moves, you are going too fast and need to stay at the distance
your dog can cope with.
Training Tips
- If your dog moves, take a short break and try again choosing a distance where you
know your dog can be successful.
- Please do not make 'no' or 'ah' noises at your dog. It's your fault they moved, not
theirs. You need to set them up to succeed. Remember correcting or punishing
your dog, only makes for a dog nervous about making mistakes. We want them to
enjoy the training journey at all times.
- Remain practising one, two or three steps away from your dog. Mix it rather than
always be pushing for harder and harder challenges.
- Release your dog regularly rather than expect them to stay for long periods in
position initially.
- As you are making progress, work on challenges such as turning your back as you
step away, spinning on the spot, jumping up and down, walking all the way
around your dog, 'sit beside' as you take a step away, 'drop-stay', 'stand-stay'.
- In the early stages of developing 'stay', always return to treat. If you start calling
your dog to you from the ‘stay’ position during the early stages, your dog may
develop the habit of ‘creeping forward’ and second guessing when you are about
to call. Returning to treat is strengthening the 'stay'. Calling them to you is
weakening the 'stay'. We want your dog sitting in position wondering when you
will be returning, not sitting in position thinking about moving!
- Return to your dog fully before moving your hand to get a treat otherwise you
may be inadvertently prompting them to move early.
- Reinforcement with treats and praise is important feedback for your dog that they
are doing well so be generous!
© Pawtential Family Dog Training 2016