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Tips on teaching a pup to stay?

Hi there. I asked a question about my Shih Tzu puppy a while back here on dogster and found some helpful responses - so I thought I'd have another go and ask some more questions.

My little boy pup, Samson, is about eight weeks old now, and I have been going through the process of teaching him the basic commands. He knows how to sit by heart, even without a treat, but I'm finding it hard to teach him to stay. Are there any good tips to know when teaching this trick? Also, what are some other easy commands to teach a young pup, that could help with obedience when he's grown up? Any help would be appreciated very much.


Asked by Guest 651097 on Jan 11th 2009 in Commands
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Bam-Bam, CGC

I've heard of folks tying their leash to something or whatever, but I've never used a method like that.

For us, we would just say "stay" give him a hand signal (flat palm infront of his face), and stand infront of him. If he stayed for 5-10 seconds he got a treat. Gradually the time got up to 30 seconds of staying, with me standing there. Once he did that, I worked on distance. I'd take 3 steps away, and worked him up to staying longer times.

Basically, its just baby steps. I can now put him in a stay at the end of the driveway while I get the mail, in one room of the house while I walk into another room of the house, and even up the road while I walk over 100 yards away (we live in a little circle that has virtually no traffic, and I'd see it coming far before it'd be an issue to him).

Baby steps my friend! Baby steps!


Bam-Bam, CGC answered on 1/11/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


~Emma~

I had a stay command, but have dropped it.

When I ask for a "sit" or "drop" I want Emma to maintain that behavior until I release her, in effect "stay."

So when I ask for sit, I just slowly increase Distraction, Duration, and Distance. (but I never increase all three at once.)

8weeks! wow


~Emma~ answered on 1/11/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Gray Dawn Treader

Stay can be a tough one. The way I taught stay, I put Treader (my dog) up on a chair and told him to stay while I left the room. When he got down to follow me, I said no and put him back on the chair, repeating the command. I then left for a minute or two and when he was still on the chair when I got back, I rewarded him.
Dogs don't always get it that quickly, but it does take patience. I had to practice stay in many different places and build up the length of time he will stay for before he got reliable with it.
What helped the most was using NILIF, Nothing In Life Is Free. In other words, I made him stay before he could get *anything* he wanted. Helps a lot.


Gray Dawn Treader answered on 1/11/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Tesla

8 weeks is very young, you are already doing very well!

Start by telling him to sit, then stay, then immediately give him a treat. Gradually begin to wait a few seconds longer before rewarding him. Eventually, you can try taking a step away from him before returning and giving a treat. Just keep working up to longer times and distances from there. If he breaks the stay, do not say anything, just put him back where he belongs and get him to stay for a little bit before treating so that you always end on a good note, with him getting it right. (Do not let him get away with cheating, not even once!)

Yoyu are doing very well with such a young pup. Good work!


Tesla answered on 1/11/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Stormy

You want to remember to give commands, ONLY ONCE! You want the command to be "Stay", not "STAY STAY STAY."
Some people want to teach their dogs to assume an automatic STAY when they put their dogs in a sit or a down. As in, they should remain sitting or laying down until you tell them otherwise. Other people like having the extra stay command.
I agree with Bam Bams method. Put the dog in a sit or down, ask him to stay and reward the dog after 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 seconds for keeping focus on you. Then ask for a stay and try to take 1 step backward. If the dog stays, give a treat. Gradually build up to more and more backward steps and/or increasing the length of time they must remain still.
Also, remember to develop a release command like "okay" to signal the dog he is allowed to break his stay or can do what he wants.
You may want to teach walking nicely on a leash at your side, rollover is really easy, a release command like "drop it" or "give". If you need help, PawMail me!!


Stormy answered on 1/12/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Zackintosh CJ

Take him to a puppy obedience class!
Trainers who use positive methods can teach pups even at 8 weeks old!


Zackintosh CJ answered on 1/12/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Jet

Jet learned stay about two weeks ago and it has gotten pretty easy for him. He already stays at the front door when I open it. Here is some GREAT advice:

Go to www.petvideo.com

Make sure your computer has sound, or it won't be very helpful.

Click on "Dog Training" then go to "Tricks" and then one of the videos will say "Stay" on it.

Watch the video without stopping one or two times. Then, go step by step. Your dog will have learned it in NO time! Hope this helps!


Jet answered on 1/17/09. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


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