How do you train a dog to stay near you?

To start teaching a dog to stay, choose a quiet location that is familiar to your dog. You also want to make sure that your dog is calm when you start this training. If your dog is naturally energetic, you may want to try after they’ve been for a walk. You can teach a dog to stay from any starting position, a sit, down, or stand but you do need to have taught them that first. Choose whichever position they find most comfortable. Ask your dog to get into your chosen starting position and praise them for it. Then, give your dog the verbal cue ‘Stay’, followed by a clear hand signal. Holding your hand up with a flat palm facing away from you works well. Take the hand signal away, and quickly reward your dog before they move. Next, you want to start to build up the amount of time that your dog can stay before you reward them. This is going to be different for every dog. As a general rule of thumb, you want your dog to stay successfully 5 times in a row before increasing the time. Next, you can start to put distance between you and your dog while they stay. You will want to make sure your dog can stay for a good minute or two before you progress to this. Each time you ask for a stay, take a step away from your dog, and then return to them to reward them.

Set your dog up for success by starting your training in a quiet, familiar place like your home or garden. The fewer distractions, the better. Ask your pup to sit, or lie down if they find this more comfortable. Reward them with a treat immediately. Ask your dog to sit again and wait one second before rewarding them with a treat. Now you can add the word “stay”. Ask your dog to sit, then say “stay” and wait five seconds before rewarding them with a treat. Always return to your dog before you reward them. Your dog should feel that the position they are staying in is really rewarding, as it always results in you returning and giving them a treat. Gradually continue to build up the time that your dog stays sitting still. Once your dog can sit still for 10 seconds, start to make the length of time you ask them to stay still before rewarding them completely unpredictable. Start to move away from your dog, ask your dog to sit and “stay”, just lean slightly to the side, away from them, to get them used to you moving your body away from them.

Once you’ve taught your dog ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘stand’, and have introduced the release cue, you can extend any position into a ‘stay’. Take the edge off first with a walk or a different exercise that will use up some of their energy. Although it doesn’t matter where your dog is at the start of this training, it may be easier to start with your dog in front of you. Stand with your dog in front of you if you can and simply ask them to go into the easiest position. Extend the time that your dog is in the position for a few seconds before you give the reward. Make sure your dog gets the reward for the stay you are asking for, i.e. while they hold the position. You can incorporate your ‘leave’ and ‘watch’ cues to help if your dog is becoming distracted. A release cue is essential so your dog knows when it’s ok to move. Gradually build up the time your dog can stay in position. As you are doing this, repeat the position cue in a positive, calm way, reminding your dog what they are doing. Once your dog can stay in the position with you close to them, you can change things by starting to gently and gradually move away from your dog a little. Help them to stay by repeating your position cue as you do it. Go back and reward your dog in position before releasing. Build this distance just one step at a time. When you introduce some distance, go back to very short periods.

Ask your dog to lie down. Give your dog a hand signal - for example, a stop sign with the palm of your hand facing your dog. Say 'stay' and then give it to them. It's essential to reward your dog while they're still lying down, and not if they've got back up. Practise this many times in short but regular sessions, gradually increasing the length of time your dog stays in the down position. Next, you can start to increase the distance between you and your dog. Start by only taking one step back before giving them the reward, and then slowly and gradually increase the distance. Practise in lots of different places - around the house, in the garden, at a friend's house and in the local park. You can also teach your dog to stay in a 'sit' position. Follow the steps above, but start by asking your dog to sit. It's important to gradually extend the time you want your dog to stay. Practise regularly and increase the time by a few seconds each time.