S-T-A-Y Command

Doggies4Evers · 05-10-2007, 06:25 PM

Buddie doesnt know stay that well, he doesnt like to be away from me. He likes to follow me around like a Pikachu you can say. Not sure how I am going to train him to stay, if he knows I'll return, ie: to bedroom or such he'll stay, I tell him to stay at those times since its an easy way to start I think to the word stay although I am not sure if thats a good way or not. If it even registers in his head of the word and action lol. I do praise him of my returning, but no clue if that is doing anything to him for teaching him this.

Cassie Nova · 05-10-2007, 07:53 PM

Personally, I STINK at teaching stay. Don't know how I've done it.

But I do know the following:

1) NEVER call your dog out of a stay. Go and retrieve him.
2) Start with short distances. At first, don't even go anywhere, just have him in a "sit", say stay, then praise him for NOT moving. Then repeat, each time taking 1 step further away from him.
3) If your dog moves, don't walk towards him. Don't know what you should do, but I do know that if you walk towards him, he'll see that as an outlet to get you to come back....thus stay now means come.

Good luck!

ETA: I LOVE your avatar!!

opokki · 05-10-2007, 08:40 PM

I gave a brief explanation of my approach in your other thread but I can provide further details if you need them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassie Nova

3) If your dog moves, don't walk towards him. Don't know what you should do, but I do know that if you walk towards him, he'll see that as an outlet to get you to come back....thus stay now means come.

I've heard this as well but I actually do step towards them and lean foward (a.k.a. - body block) if I think they are about to break. If they get up completely, I give my NRM (no reward marker), walk them back to position and start over but for a shorter duration and from a shorter distance this time. Then I gradually work my way back up to were I was.

Basically, I return to them during the stay several times to reward them without releasing them. On my final return or two I do not reward but then I release....I don't want them to anticipate the release upon being rewarded. I try to prevent them from breaking using body blocks and I put them back into position if they do break and then I make the exercise easier so that they CAN succeed the second time around.

Natalie's stays are fantastic, I continue to increase and vary distractions to ensure that she is very well proofed. She will down-stay on the side walk while a group of strangers walk past, while I run in circles around her, while I step over her several times, and even while I intentially put pressure on the leash.

Sebastian is still in beginning stages but is making good progress. I'd like for him to become as reliable as Natalie.

Doggies4Evers · 05-10-2007, 09:16 PM

I would love to hear any information you can offer me, the more I know the better

opokki · 05-10-2007, 09:48 PM

Also check out the videos "Stay" parts 1-3 at this site:
http://clickertrainusa.com/clicker-training-videos.htm

I do it a little different than the video but I'm sure either way could work well....
To start out - Have your dog sit, use your hand like a stop sign placing it in front of your dogs face. Take one short quick step backward (or to the side) and immediately return to your dog, reward him and remind him to stay using your hand signal. Take one quick step back, return and release. Repeat, alternating steps to either side side and backwards. Once you are having success with this, add the cue "Stay" just before giving your hand signal.

You can begin varying and gradually extending the length of time you step away for. For example: step away for a count of 2 secs, then 4 secs, then 1 sec, then 3 secs, then 5 secs. Return to reward your dog without releasing him, move away reminding him to stay if need be. Return and release him. Keep working towards your desired duration. With enough repetition (several 1-3 min training session daily usually works well) your dog should have a clear understanding of "stay" as well as your chosen release word.

Next you can work on distance by gradually moving further and further away from him. When you work on distance you should decrease the duration of the stay. For example: Ask your dog to sit and take 2 steps away for 5 secs, return, reward, move one step away again for 3 secs, return, release.

Be sure to work on duration, distance, and distractions separately.

Jen D · 05-11-2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassie Nova

Personally, I STINK at teaching stay. Don't know how I've done it.

But I do know the following:

1) NEVER call your dog out of a stay. Go and retrieve him.
2) Start with short distances. At first, don't even go anywhere, just have him in a "sit", say stay, then praise him for NOT moving. Then repeat, each time taking 1 step further away from him.
3) If your dog moves, don't walk towards him. Don't know what you should do, but I do know that if you walk towards him, he'll see that as an outlet to get you to come back....thus stay now means come.

Good luck!

ETA: I LOVE your avatar!!

Number one and two are great! Three I would go to the dog and put him back in the same place and start over till he gets it and he will.

Doggies4Evers · 05-18-2007, 10:57 PM

Thank you all for offering your advice

I hope he'll learn stay soon!!

threedognite · 05-21-2007, 01:29 PM

You must teach your dog what stay means. Tell him to stay and put your open hand to his face. Walk away a few feet. If he follows you, return him to the very same spot where you started and tell him to stay again.
Make sure you walk to him to praise him and release him by saying "Okay" or "good". You can give him a little piece of a treat. Repeat this for about ten minutes but don't overwork this command. Each time, go away further and further. When you give your dog a command, you must follow through and make him do it. Otherwise, he won't respect you and training will take much longer.