Stay Command

Jasenmp said:

I've a lot just reading various threads but now I have a question. I've managed to train my dog to sit, down (flops on her back and exposes her belly), and lay. Now I want her to stay in position until I tell her to move. Also I notice she doesn't listen nearly as much when outside I'm assuming it has to do with being in a different enviroment. Any tips on getting her to follow these commands regardless of where we are? Thanks.

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In my experience the secret to a stay command is teaching a 'release' command. Basically if your dog just stays as long as he feels like you'll have issues. But if he stays until you 'release' him he'll potentially stay from dawn to dusk.

1. Teach a release command.
2. Teach stay in very short intervals - start with toes to toes (have him sit next to you, pivot to face him and hold the leash high over his head very short. Stay! for about a millisecond. Then release the dog. Stay at short intervals, proof at short intervals. Lenghten the interval before you graduate to more distance. Gradually work to the end of leash. If he breaks the stay go back to toes to toes.

JMO
Paula

what is a good way to teach release? I've taught Kate to stay (I know this because I have used a treat right in front of her nose) but she doesn't quite get when it is okay to release


But for teaching stay... do it like Paula said but one thing I added was I put my hand in front of her nose (in the position a stop guard does for telling someone to stop), but not touching, I say stay, and then I walk away

Kate said:

what is a good way to teach release?

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We started teaching Bella a release when she was a puppy by saying "OKAY!" in a really obnoxiously happy voice as well as swinging our arms or jumping up a little. I think the silly movement of our bodies automatically brought her out of position, and she eventually learned that the word "OKAY!" means it is okay to break position because we phased out the silly movements all together. She seems to know the difference between "okay" in ordinary conversation and her release "OKAY!"

Kate said:

what is a good way to teach release? I've taught Kate to stay (I know this because I have used a treat right in front of her nose) but she doesn't quite get when it is okay to release


But for teaching stay... do it like Paula said but one thing I added was I put my hand in front of her nose (in the position a stop guard does for telling someone to stop), but not touching, I say stay, and then I walk away

Click to expand...

I'm trying to remember when my dogs learned the release command....maybe at meal time. Put the food down, hold the dog back, say release command and release the dog. It's been a long time.

Paula

The release command, IMO, is essentail to training. I also use the word "OK" as a release, and another word I use when training is "yes", to let her know she is doing what I want.
I learned to train the down by giving her a "yes", every 5 seconds or so, as well as a treat, until I gave "OK" (you're done). If she didn't automatically get up when I say "OK", I'll ask her to come.

Kate said:

But for teaching stay... do it like Paula said but one thing I added was I put my hand in front of her nose (in the position a stop guard does for telling someone to stop), but not touching, I say stay, and then I walk away

Click to expand...

this is how i was taught to train for the stay command....it works perfect for all my dogs..... if they start to move, i say NO, STAY (with hand up).... after several sessions, it works like a charm.

oh yeah, and a treat for the release......!

I agree with a release command. My dogs are not allowed to break ANY command I give them until they are released, be it heel, down, sit, etc.

Hi
Here is a couple of technique pages
http://www.ehow.com/how_67_train-dog-stay.html
http://www.malteseworld.com/wizzai.html

I had the "outside issue" too, what works 75% inside only works 25% outside... it gets better there is no magic trick as long as you train, if you train harder it will stick faster .... no short cuts on that
Bo