​Teaching your puppy to Wait can be an invaluable command. This command is helpful because it can prevent bad behaviors from even starting. If your dog waits at the door, he cannot escape outside. If your dog waits before he comes out of the car, he cannot run out into the street... 

The way that we teach our puppies to “Wait” is by using body blocks. We use our bodies to control a “valued resource”, in this case, a doorway (yes, to a dog a doorway can be something valuable!).  Place your body in-between your dog and the doorway, having the whole front of your body facing your dog.  Take a step in and lean toward your dog.  Try to control the space of the doorway with your body but have the leash on your dog while you’re practicing - just in case Rover slips past you!  You might have to do the quick two-step from side to side!  

1. Tell your dog “Wait” (calmly, one time), and open the door.  

2. Right away, have your body blocking the door. Remember to have your hips aimed towards your dog. The way you’ll be facing him this way tells your dog, in doggy body language, to “stop” or “back up”. 

3. If he tries to go forward, through your legs, move your legs around to make sure he can’t slip through.

4. Once he stops trying to go out the door, step aside so there is nothing between your dog and the outside. 

5. Wait just a second.  Remember to have an open space between your dog and the outside…

6. If he is still being good (not trying to get out!) say “Okay!”, and let him out.

7. If you step aside (step #3) and he tries to go out the door, start all over again.

When you practice, sometimes let them out when they’re being good, sometimes I don’t.  This is good to practice for instances when it is not okay for them to go out (when the pizza is delivered!).