Stat 101: How to Teach Your Dog to Stay
Imagine this: You're preparing dinner, getting ready to eat your favorite meal but your dog is underfoot, waiting for every tiny morsel of food you drop. And you know that once you're eating, your dog will be gazing up at you with those puppy dog eyes, begging for a bite of your delicious food.
If your life sounds anything like this, don't worry, we have a solution!
In this blog, we’ll teach your dog to stay on their mat while you're prepping food or eating dinner OR BOTH!
Ta da!
Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Teach Your Dog to Stay
To get started prepare your dog's bed, lots of tiny training treats, and your clicker.
Session 1
Step 1
Lure your dog onto their mat and into a "down", then release the treat.
Step 2
Tell your dog to "stay" then quickly say click and give them a treat. Repeat five times. Then say "release" and prompt your dog to get off of their bed.
Step 3
Lure your dog onto their mat and into the "Down" position again. Tell your dog to "stay" then count to 1-2 seconds before clicking and treating. Repeat this step 5 times. Then say "release" and prompt your dog to get off their bed.
Session 2
Step 4
Lure your dog onto their mat and into the "Down" position again. Tell your dog to "stay" then count to 3-4 seconds before clicking and treating. Repeat this step 5 times. Then say "release" and prompt your dog to get off their bed.
Session 3
Step 5
Gesture your dog onto their mat and into the "Down" position again. Tell your dog to "stay" then count to 5-6 seconds before clicking and treating. Repeat this step 5 times. Then say "release" and prompt your dog to get off their bed.
Session 4
Step 6
Gesture your dog onto their mat and into the "Down" position again. Tell your dog to "stay" then count to 7-8 seconds before clicking and treating. Repeat this step 5 times. Then say "release" and prompt your dog to get off their bed.
Session 5
Step 7
Gesture your dog onto their mat and into the "Down" position again. Tell your dog to "stay" then count to 9-10 seconds before clicking and treating. Repeat this step 5 times. Then say "release" and prompt your dog to get off their bed.
Session 6
Step 8
Gesture your dog onto their mat and into the "Down" position again. Tell your dog to "stay" then take one step back, return to your pup, click and reward. Repeat this a few times, then release your pup.
Repeat gesturing your pup onto their mat, into the "down" position, telling them to "stay" and then taking 1-3 steps back, returning, then clicking and treating.
Sessions 7, 8 , 9 & 10+
Step 9
Walk 3-5 steps from your pup
Step 10
Walk 5-7 steps from your pup
Step 11
Walk 7-9 steps from your pup
Step 12
Walk to your cutting board
Step 13
Walk to your cutting board, & "chop" something
Step 14
Walk to your dining room table
Step 15
Walk to your dining room table and sit down
How to be Successful At Teaching Your Dog New Tricks
Can you see that we're breaking down the training criteria into tiny micro-distractions so that your pup can be successful? This is how you'll continue to build up a rock solid stay. Once your pup can handle the individual pieces you can begin to combine them such as in step 15!
Other tips & tricks:
Teach practice longer durations, teach "stay" in the crate with the door closed initially, then gradually open the crate door as your pup gets more reliable.
Teach practice longer durations, teach "stay" with your dog tethered to a table or another sturdy piece of furniture.
Only practice stay for 2-5 minute sessions. Stay is quite a boring behavior for our pups so keeping it short in the beginning will help them to be more successful in the long run!
Consider giving your pup high value chews to snack on their bed when training a longer duration stay behavior. We love kneecaps for this kind of training!
Ready to begin training your dog?
Make sure to grab yourself a treat pouch before class to help with training on the go! We personally love this pouch by RUFFWEAR.
