Moon Dog Training - Articles - MOON DOG TRAINING

"stay"

Stay is very difficult for our dogs to learn, it’s a strange concept for them. Until now, we have always wanted them with us (Come to us, Walk with us, etc.). So, in the beginning, to help them understand what “Stay” means, we are not going to move ourselves. If we start moving right away, our dogs are probably going to break their stay to come with us.
Week One
Have your dog Sit directly in front of you. Tell him “Stay” in a calm, confident voice. Wait only a couple of seconds. Give him a treat and then say, “Okay”. Sometimes it helps to take a few steps backwards once you’ve released him, to help your dog understand that “Okay” means he can get up. You want to treat your dog while he is still staying, so he can understand that the “Stay” part is the good part. When you release your dog (okay), try not to get excited about it. You want your dog to enjoy the training part, not get excited because the training exercise is over!

If your dog gets up before you have said okay, gently place your dog back in his sit (by luring him into his sit with the treat – do not give him the treat yet!). Do not repeat the command because you have already told him once. You don’t want him to start thinking that “Sit Stay” means that he sits and gets up 4 or 5 times and then you release him! If he is consistently getting up before you have released him (okay), this means that you, as his trainer, need to take a few steps backwards in your training. Ask him to stay for about ½ the time that you had been doing previously. If you were counting to five, now only count to 2 before you treat and release.

Once your dog has successfully done a few Sit-Stays, practice Down-Stays.

Week Two
Ask your dog to Stay, and then slowly walk a few steps away from your dog. Count to 5. Return to your dog, praise and treat him and then release. Do not tell your dog Stay, walk away and then call your dog to come, for a couple different reasons:

#1 If you tell your dog to come from a Stay, you will be rewarding your dog for coming to you, but they never got rewarded for the Stay, and that is what you were working on.
#2 If you ask your dog to Stay and then call him away from a Stay, you will always have a dog that has ants in their pants, thinking that at any given moment you will be calling him to you…

Week Three
Practice Sit Stays at home for up to a minute. Practice Down Stays for longer (2 or 3 minutes?) Judge how your dog is doing. You can help your dog while in his Down Stay by giving him a bone to chew on while he’s down! He’s staying, and he’s getting a reward at the same time!

Stay Reminders

Treat your dog before you release him – we want him to understand that they “Stay” is the good thing, and not have him sitting there thinking – I can’t wait until it’s over so I can get my treat!
If your dog gets up before you’ve released him, place him back in his Sit by luring him into place, as opposed to repeating the Sit and the Stay.
If your dog is getting up repeatedly before you’ve released him, you are probably waiting too long. Try cutting the time and the distance you are asking of your pup in half.

Giene Keyes

Giene Keyes is the owner of Moon Dog Training, LLC, providing positive in-home training, behavior consultations and group classes. After receiving “Best of Madison'' multiple years in a row, Giene sold her dog daycare to focus on her dog behavior work. Giene has been working with pets and their owners for over 30 years. She is a professional animal trainer and behavior specialist in Southern Wisconsin. Giene divides her time between teaching group classes and private lessons – Specializing in manners and aggression cases. Giene works with vets, rescue groups and shelters, evaluating dogs for adoption, developing Canine Aggression Management Programs, and educating staff on dog language and behaviors. She consults for dog daycares and training companies by educating staff on dog body language, cues, managing a pack, difficult dogs and much more. She provides behavior consultations for service dog organizations and rescue groups in the Midwest. She has been an Instructor with the American Red Cross in Pet CPR and First Aid, a Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator with the American Kennel Club, and a Licensed Judge with the WI Dept of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection. Giene is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She routinely presents seminars on dog behavior and training, as well as chicken training seminars to promote team building. Giene has been a regular guest on popular Madison radio shows and evening newscasts. Giene has also been featured in numerous local magazines, including the cover for Wisconsin Woman. Giene is a published author (see her Chicken Training Book!) and loves demonstrating to people how clever dogs, chickens and pigs can be.