A Quick and Easy Way To Teach Your Dog To Stay

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How many times have you tried to teach your dog to stay, only to discover that your dog doesn’t want to stay?

Training your dog to stay can be very challenging because most dogs are easily distracted. Dogs are also naturally energetic and inattentive. Your dog may have difficulty comprehending the stay command because it necessitates inactivity.

As we all know, it doesn’t take long for a dog to become restless and bored! That is why the stay command can be difficult to teach! Here is an easy way to teach your dog to stay.

How To Teach Your Dog To Stay

Before you teach your dog to stay it is important to teach him the sit command. If you haven’t taught your dog the sit command, check out my article Teaching Your Dog The Sit Command.

Step 1:

Put your dog in a sit. Stand in front of him and take one step back. Pause for a second and then return to your dog. If he stayed, then praise him and give him a treat. If your dog moved, immediately put him back where you had left him and try again. Gradually increase the amount of steps that you take away from your dog. Pause for a second and then return to him rewarding him if he stayed and repositioning him if he moved.

Pro Tip: Always use a release word when you are finished the exercise so that your dog understands that he no longer has to stay. A good release word to use is “okay” or “free”.

Click on the photos below to check out our favorite training treats.

Step 2:

Once your dog is consistently staying when you step back from him, start using the verbal command “stay” and put your hand in front of you in a stop motion, palm out, to let him know that he is to stay where he is. Take one step back, return and then praise if he stays where you asked him to. Repeat until you can back away several feet from him.

Step 3:

Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog and the amount of time that he has to stay. In the beginning keep the sessions short, no more than a 30 second stay. You can gradually increase the time to 3 to 4 minutes.

Problem Solving:

If your dog does not stay, always reposition him back to where you asked him to stay. Only reward him when he stays but do not punish him if he moves. He will eventually learn that he gets treats and praise when he stays.

How To Test Your Dog’s Stay Command

1. Put your dog on a short leash and walk him to the front door.

Using a leash will allow you to control your dog better when he doesn’t respond to the stay command at first.

Open the door just enough for you to squeeze through and go outside, leaving your dog on the inside. Now your dog will be one side with you on the other and the leash hanging in between.

You might try giving your dog the SIT command at first. A dog that is in a sitting position will tend to be still a bit longer than if he were standing up.

2. Slowly open the door just a small amount.

Hold up the palm of your hand in a STOP position and say STAY!

Don’t be disappointed if your dog tries to shove open the door and come rushing toward you! Your dog, not knowing this command, is probably going to scramble to push through the door.

3. Shut the door quickly as soon as your dog starts to move toward you.

This will halt the dog in his tracks.

Okay, now repeat step two. Now watch your dog closely. The first time that he doesn’t try to rush through the door may only last a mere second!

When your dog finally comprehends the stay command and pauses, lavish him with praise and give him a release command (OKAY!) to let him go through the door.

4. Practice, practice, practice!

Keep repeating the steps described above. Your dog will eventually learn that when he mellows out and stays that you will allow him to pass through the front door.

Click on the photos to check out these dog training aids.

5. Once your dog learns to obey the stay command from the sit position, try teaching him the command while he is standing up.

This is a much harder position for your dog to master the stay command from. He is going to want to move around or even sit.

Be consistent with your training and practice this routine at every opportunity. Be sure to give your dog lots of praise and positive reinforcement. Soon, your dog will understand what you want and will easily respond to the stay command!

Training your dog to obey the stay command takes time, patience and practice. But the end result will be worth it! Eventually, you will be rewarded with a dog that no longer bolts out the door every time you open it and stays when you ask him to!