The uses of the stay command are far more vast than I can mention in this short article. Suffice it to say that teaching a dog this important command will help with his overall physical and mental maintenance.

The stay is a great means of working through distraction training. Many dogs will remain still (in a stay) provided they can watch the distraction. Hence, the use of a stay when out walking and the dog sees another dog that it wants to greet. Teaching the dog to remain in a stay will be far easier than trying to walk by the distraction with the dog straining at the leash.

Some dogs will learn the stay exercise faster than others. Older dogs usually respond quickly, as though it is an easy exercise, while younger dogs, especially puppies, with have more difficulty with the stay than with adown-on-command or recall command. Most puppies have difficulty remaining still for any length of time. A dog that is insecure will also have difficulty learning the stay command.

As with any behavior, the stay exercise requires breaking the action into small components and then bringing them together to create the ultimate response of a dog that remains in whatever position you request while you move into the distance, out of sight and/or have distractions present. Teaching the stay exercise in a methodical manner will improve the dog's reliability when given the stay command, regardless of its surroundings.

The initial stay taught during on leash basic obedience training should be broken down into three smaller components. The first is to teach the dog to remain in one spot for a long period of time - up to a minute. The second is to teach the dog to remain in place while the handler walks around in both directions. The third part is to teach the dog to remain in one place while the handler gains distance walking around him.

The first part of the stay-time-is best accomplished through repetition during the training session. The handler should stop often and give the dog the stay command then step directly in front of the dog. Initially, the handler remains in front of the dog for only a few seconds. Upon returning to the dog's side, the dog is rewarded with praise and/or a treat or toy or touch, whichever the dog prefers. Each time the handler tells the dog to stay, she remains in front of the dog a few seconds longer. Remaining in front of the dog during a sit stay usually precludes it from moving forward and leaving the stay position. Should the dog move, it also allows the handler to quickly return the dog to where he was told to perform his stay.

During this initial learning phase the dog should not be corrected if he gets up, for he still does not know the true meaning of the command. It is unfair to expect a dog to fully understand a word the first or second time it is used. Dog trainers must keep in mind that they are using a language foreign to their dogs and it will require much repetition to form clear understanding. Through the repetition of returning the dog into the same position, and then praising him while he remains there, the dog will learn the true meaning of stay.

Teaching this exercise to a young dog or one that is easily distracted may be challenging, but the trainer must maintain patience and persistence. Above all, the trainer must praise the dog while it remains in the stay and offer a great reward when the exercise has been completed. This will encourage and allow the dog to figure out what is desired from his trainer.

Within a few days to a week, the dog can learn to remain in the same spot for upwards of a minute, provided the training was presented in a positive, methodical manner and rewarded with enthusiasm. Dogs strive to please their people, but also need some incentive for themselves. This incentive can be your happy voice, a treat, a toy or your touch. The better the dog performs, the more of these rewards he should receive.

After the dog has proven reliability on remaining in the same place with the trainer standing in front of him, it is time for the second phase of the stay command-movement.

As with all dog training, each exercise is taught through successive approximation. This means that with each successive command, more is expected before bridging the behavior and offering the reward. This is most obvious when teaching the second phase of the sit stay command.

The session begins with reviewing the first step of building up the time the dog must remain in place. Once the dog is concentrating, the trainer can advance to moving side to side in front of the dog. Praising the dog as he watches insures attentiveness. Remaining quiet, but not correcting him, if he does not watch will also teach him that it is far more pleasant to watch, allowing the dog to make his own decision on this facet of the behavior; i.e. the reward is better if he watches.

During the initial movement of the sit stay exercise, it is best to decrease the length of the stay, for the dog will be far more stressed at having to remain in place as the trainer moves about. Once he is comfortable, the stay time can be returned to the longer length.

When the dog is working well with his trainer moving about in front of him, it is time to begin moving along his sides. Step side to side, then towards his hip. Then back in front and down towards his hip on the other side. If working with a large dog, remain within a foot of him, being careful of nearing his tail or feet. If working with a small dog, it is better to remain a little further. Small dogs always fear being stepped upon and many will not remain still if this should accidentally happen during the training process.

As the dog remains steady throughout the side to side movement, it is time to walk behind him. Do this only once and then return to heel position and offer him his reward. The next time, move around him twice-once in each direction.

With each sit stay exercise the handler should successively increase the amount of times she walks around the dog, also increasing the amount of time the dog remains in the stay.

At this point, the trainer can begin increasing her distance from the dog as she walks around him. Within a short period of time, say 15 minutes, she should be able to walk around the dog at the end of a six-foot leash. With repetition, and after distraction proofing, the trainer should change over to a longer leash and continually increase distance from the dog.

If at any time the dog gets up, he should be verbally corrected and replaced in the same spot where he was originally instructed to remain. This means that the handler should not first gather the leash and then replace the dog. That would completely throw off the appropriate timing of the correction. The verbal correction has already informed the dog that he did something wrong. However, the handler must be timely in returning the dog to his original location. Go directly to the dog. If he is moving away, step on the leash, and/or reel him back, replacing him as soon as possible.

The same training procedures can be used for building a solid down stay, however, the main differences are as follows:

Phase 1-Time: The handler should not step in front during the time establishing phase of the down stay, but remain at the dog's side in heel position. The toughest part of having the dog remain in a down is simply to remain as the handler releases shoulder pressure or takes the target away and stands up.

When introducing distractions, the handler should regress a bit. Sometimes one needs to regress in order to progress. For example, the dog will perform a sit or down stay while in a quiet fenced in area, but not in a park or near other dogs. At this time, the trainer needs to regress to a comfortable point, say back to remaining close or standing in front of the dog as it stays, until the dog learns to ignore the distractions and concentrate on what was requested of him.

As the dog relaxes and listens, the trainer can then progress to movement and increased distance. When the dog shows signs of distraction at a certain point, the trainer again should back up to the point where the dog was comfortable and remain there for a while, gradually increasing the criterion through successive training sessions. This can take anywhere from a day to months, depending on the dog and consistency of his handler.

Achieving a solid stand stay is far different from performing sit or down stays. It is easier for the dog to move while standing than while sitting or lying down. Just being happy and wagging his tail may be enough to move him out of position. Successive approximation is again utilized but in a different manner.

The first stage of a good stand stay is to stand the dog as the command is given. This can either be from a sit or while walking in the heel. It might be easiest to do this from a sit with a small dog and from the walking heel with a large breed. As the dog is targeted into position, either with a treat, toy or actually gently urged forward with a leash, the handler should put a hand under the dog's tummy, just below the rib cage, and lift upward, gently. Once the dog is standing, it will remain in position longer if the trainer scratches his tummy while praising him. This makes for a very positive stand stay, for even the most submissive or rambunctious canine.

The trainer needs to work on just this portion of the command for upwards of a week, or until the dog is so comfortable that he does not move his feet around. The tail is allowed to wag and the head should also be allowed to move as he watches his handler, but his feet must remain stationary. At this level in the training process, the trainer is working on phase 1 of the exercise-time.

When the dog can remain still for upwards of 45 seconds to a minute, the trainer can begin to work on phase 2-movement. This exercise, as with the down stay, would be learned faster if the trainer steps behind the dog instead of in front. Itis also helpful for the trainer to continue rubbing the dog's tummy as she walks behind the dog and to his other side, then back to heel position via the same way.

Stepping in front of the dog means having to stop rubbing his tummy, but does not mean to stop touching him altogether. The trainer can touch his head, ears and neck during this movement and still maintain the dog's attention throughout the stand stay. Also, at this time, the handler can begin touching the dog allover, simulating a veterinary exam and acclimating the dog to what might occur when visiting his vet. This improves his overall behavior while at the clinic because he has learned to have positive associations with the procedure.

The final phase-distance-is achieved by gradually decreasing the amount of touching while walking around the dog. Distance increments should be accomplished within a period of a couple weeks. There is no need to rush through this exercise, as there is rarely a reason to leave one's dog in a stand stay for any length of time. In fact, it is physically difficult for the dog to remain in this position for longer than a couple of minutes, which is why it was changed in the American Kennel Club utility level at obedience trials from a three minute stand stay to a shorter term stand-for-examination while performing the signal exercise.

It would also be helpful to promote a solid stand stay if the trainer refrains from doing a recall from the stand stay position until the behavior is very solid, i.e. the dog will not move regardless of distraction, and this can take some time.

Regardless of the stay position one is achieving to attain with their dog, the execution of the exercise will be far more reliable if one takes the time to break it down into smaller components and teach the dog each step before continuing on to the next. Consistency and successive approximation are the principle components and repetition builds reliability.